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News & Goings On
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//
mp0015.txt
4th
February
2004
Dudley MP States the Case for Tuition Fees
Ross Cranston QC MP
Dudley North MP
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Though overshadowed somewhat by Hutton Report headlines, the recent narrow squeak for the Government regarding
tuition fees - they won by just 5 votes - was nevertheless a matter of considerable concern to local people.
Many Labour MP's voted with their conscience against their leadership, and we thought that it may be of interest to
Yampy readers to find out how our representative voted, and why.
After an exchange of emails with Ross Cranston's office we're pleased to say that an extract from a relevant speech he made
in the House of Commons a couple of months ago (which, it has been confirmed, continues to reflects his current position)
has now been posted
on the MP's website at
www.rosscranston.labour.co.uk.
Mr. Cranston voted in favour of tuition fees, and his reasoning follows a pretty standard line;
our universities need more money to compete with the world's best and levying the charge on students is
'socially equitable'. The speech reveals that he has no qualms about the specific issue that particularly troubled
many of his colleagues, when he says:
"It makes sense for different universities to charge different fees for different courses,
and for universities to be able to charge different amounts. That would reflect both the cost of different courses
and the returns to students from those different courses in different universities."
Quite a few Labour MP's who eventually supported the Government were wavering right up until the last moment and would
claim that this strategy gained concessions from the Education Minister. What is most significant however
about the speech on Mr. Cranston's web site is that he made such a staunch and comprehensive defence
of the plans way back in November.
An unequivocal position therefore. But is it the correct one? Let us know at
feedback@yampy.co.uk.
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