Liberal Democrats renew pledge to abolish tuition fees

4.34.00pm GMT Fri 18th Dec 2009

Stephen Robinson collects his scrap tuition fees petition at Anglia Ruskin Freshers' Fair

The Liberal Democrats have announced that they will keep their policy of abolishing university tuition fees in their manifesto for the 2010 General Election. Chelmsford Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Stephen Robinson welcomed the news, saying, "At Chelmsford's own university and elsewhere I have met students burdened by massive debts as a result of tuition fees - backed by Labour and the Conservatives.

"Fees have left many young people leaving university with debts of up to £30,000. This has deterred students from poorer backgrounds and created a more unequal society."

"In today's recession far too many young people are left high and dry without a job. Moreover, house prices are still completely out of reach for most graduates. To be saddling our young people with this level of debt is completely unacceptable."

"I have campaigned for years to get tuition fees scrapped. Meanwhile Labour betrayed our young people when they introduced fees despite their promise not to, and the Conservatives just keep changing their policy. I am delighted that the Liberal Democrats have reaffirmed their commitment to scrap this unfair tax on learning."