Liberal Democrats Vote against Tuition Fees

9.31.35pm GMT Wed 25th Mar 2009

At our recent Spring Conference we passed important motions on education that will provide a strong foundation for our General Election manifesto.

They include giving parents a combined 19 months of parental leave, families 20 hours of free childcare a week from 18 months, and cutting infant class sizes to 15. These measures will provide a comprehensive package designed to ensure the best start for all our children.

Evidence suggests that money invested early in a child's life is more effective than the same amount spent later. Intelligent children from poor families start to fall behind as early as three in preparing for school, contributing to our appallingly low level of social mobility. We would abolish the Child Trust Fund to partly pay for these measures

We also voted to maintain our opposition to tuition fees and to extend it to a first degree for all including part time students. It is unfair that young people are penalised for wanting to improve their skills while working. This is all the more important in our present economic crisis.