22 September 2009

million+ at the Liberal Democrat Conference

million+ and the National Union of Students hosted a fringe meeting entitled Higher Education: parties and promises at the Liberal Democrat Conference. Given the announcement of Liberal Democrat Party Leader Nick Clegg that the long held policy of abolishing tuition fees may no longer be affordable or a commitment the party can keep for it’s 2010 manifesto, the meeting was packed with activists and stakeholders all wanting to debate the future of this policy.

Speaking at the meeting was Phil Willis MP (Chair of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee) Professor Les Ebdon CBE – Chair of million+ and Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire Aaron Porter NUS Vice President and Stephen Williams MP Shadow Secretary of State for Universities. Sarah Carr Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire kindly chaired the meeting.

Professor Ebdon raised concerns about the impact on universities of the ‘shopping list’ of cuts that is being promoted by Treasury Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable MP as a way to deal with the UK’s deficit. He also made the case for continued university expansion as a way out of the recession and to meet the future needs of the economy.

The meeting was lively with fantastic contributions both from the speakers and the floor.

Read the epolitix write up of the meeting – epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/tuition-fees-dominate-nus-fringe

Phil Willis MP addresses the meeting

Phil Willis MP, Professor Les Ebdon and Sarah Carr

Aaron Porter NUS Vice President addresses the meeting

million+ chair Professor Les Ebdon addressing the meeting and getting a laugh!

Stephen Williams MP addressing the meeting

The Delegates start to ask hard questions of the panel