27 September 2009

million+ at Labour Party Conference

million+ and the National Union of Students hosted a fringe meeting entitled Higher Education: what will Labour promise students and universities on Sunday 27th September. The meeting was packed with only standing room left. The Labour delegates and in particular the Labour Students were out in force to question the Minister on what Labour’s manifesto commitment on fees will be for the next general election.

Speaking at the meeting were David Lammy MP Minister of State for Higher Education, Chuka Ummuna Labour PPC for Streatham, Professor Les Ebdon CBE, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and Chair of million+ and Wes Streeting, President of the National Union of Students. The meeting was kindly chaired by Ann Mroz Editor of the Times Higher.

Professor Ebdon said, “Labour needs to stop shilly-shallying and say where it stands on fees and university funding. Do they want to increase the market in higher education? Will they pledge to get rid of the discrimination that part-time students face in accessing adequate funding? Will they lift the cap on fees without addressing any of the inequities in the system?

“Telling voters to ‘wait and see’ what Labour’s policies will be until after the election will just not wash. Students and universities can’t be left in the dark. Labour needs to stop hiding behind the fees review. Students, university staff and their families need to know what they are voting for before they head off to the ballot box.”

Sparks flew between the Minister and the NUS President and delegates and other members of the panel pressed the need for Labour to have a stated position on fees before expecting people to go to the ballot box.

Listen to the podcast of the meeting: www.epolitix.com/conference/labour/

Read the epolitix write up of the meeting: www.epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/lammy-focuses-on-university-expansion

David Lammy MP & Professor Les Ebdon

The panel address the meeting

The panel

Pam Tatlow and Professor Les Ebdon with David Lammy MP