Tuition fee fight finds three new allies

THREE more Parliamentary hopefuls have pledged to vote against any increase in tuition fees if they are elected.

Oldham East and Saddleworth Labour candidate Phil Woolas and his UKIP opponent David Bentley, along with Ashton Lib-Dem candidate Paul Larkin have now signed up to the National Union of Students pledge.

More than 1,000 candidates have now back the no-increase proposals, including 400 Lib-Dem candidates, 200 Labour, 200 each from the Green and UKIP parties, but just 13 Tories.

Immigration minister Mr Woolas along with Roberta Blackman-Woods, parliamentary private secretary to High Education Minister David Lammy have broken rank and signed the pledge.

NUS president-elect Aaron Porter said the support meant any attempt to raise fees could be defeated in the event of a hung parliament after next week’s general election.

Mr Porter said: “Students look set to swing the election in a number of key seats, and to win our respect and our votes politicians must come clean on fees or face the consequences.”

Labour candidate for Oldham West and Roy-ton Michael Meacher and his Lib-Dem opponent Mark Alcock and Lib-Dem candidate in Oldham East and Saddleworth Elwyn Watkins previously signed up to the pledge.

Catch up with the candidates at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/elections/