£21,000 debts face betrayed generation

12.00.00pm GMT Tue 21st Jan 2003

Duncan Hames campaigning with students from Bristol University

Government Education Secretary, Charles Clarke MP, told families this weekend to be prepared for students to take on debts of up to £21,000 when the Labour government backs the start of 'Top-up Fees' for university education. At the last General Election the Labour Party promised not to introduce these 'Top-up Fees' that are feared by many parents who hope their children may be able to go to university.

Duncan Hames, Westbury Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Spokesman, recently joined Lib Dem MPs and students from Bath and Bristol Universities, on the national march in London to campaign against rising levels of student debt.

"This is terrible news for families of children who hope to go to university" said Duncan Hames.

"Liberal Democrats opposed the Tuition Fees that the Labour Government introduced five years ago, and since then have abolished them in Scotland - where we are part of the government. Labour promised at the General Election, not to go even further and introduce Top-up Fees, but now it is clear that is what they want to do. This broken promise is nothing short of a betrayal of the next generation of students and their families." he said.

"A local mother has told me that her teenage daughter was 'well put off' by this news. I was fortunate enough to receive a partial grant when I was at university, and graduated with far less debt than students do today. It is wrong to put up a £21,000 barrier which will deter young people from continuing in education and reaching their full potential. My Lib Dem colleagues in parliament and I will be campaigning to force the government to re-think this disastrous policy." said Duncan Hames.