Fees Bill Must Be Stopped, says Maines

10.33.41am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 9th Jan 2004

Local Liberal Democrat leader Chris Maines wants tuition fees scrapped

Local Liberal Democrat, Chris Maines was quick to condemn the Government's plans to introduce top-up fees for students. Speaking on the publication day of the Government's bill, Cllr Maines said:

"This Bill must be defeated. The Government are trying to make access to higher education dependent on the ability to pay, when it should be on the ability to learn."

"These plans are likely to mean that many of our brightest local students would no longer be able to afford a university education. It makes a mockery of the Government's claim to be widening opportunities."

Chris Maines believes the Government's proposals will hit many Orpington families, "Parents, particularly those with several children, will realise a University education will no longer be available to their sons and daughters."

"The Government are fundamentally changing the purpose of a decent education. Graduates will no longer be able to choose valuable, but relatively poorly paid, careers such as teaching. "

The Liberal Democrats have a costed and realistic alternative.

"We should ask those earning super salaries to pay a little more through a 50p tax rate on their earnings over £100,000 each year," says the local Liberal Democrat leader, Chris Maines. "This would raise enough to scrap all tuition fees and reintroduce grants of up to £2,000 for students from low income backgrounds, as well scrapping charges for long-term care for the elderly and cutting council tax. Surely this would be a fairer way forward?"

Chris Maines is calling on local Conservatives to join with the Liberal Democrats in opposing the Bill and campaigning for all tuition fees to be scrapped. During the last year Orpington Liberal Democrats have been petitioning against top fees and were out in force at the anti-tuition fees march in Central London with people from all political backgrounds.

Chris Maines says "The Conservatives said they would vote against the Bill, but then Conservative leader Michael Howard admitted that the Tories have no alternative policy for funding higher education. If everyone opposed to fees unite to vote "no" in parliament, I believe the Government can be beaten"

Local people wishing to sign the Liberal Democrat petition against fees and top-up fees can do so at www.ScrapTuitionFees.com