Chris signs Tuition Fees Pledge

4.50.05pm GMT Thu 3rd Dec 2009

Chris Nicholson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, Brixton and Clapham, has signed the National Union of Students' (NUS) Funding Our Future Pledge, promising not to raise university tuition fees and instead to seek out fairer funding alternatives.

Chris was keen to sign up to the pledge, saying, 'University fees are unfair and hinder social mobility. The Government needs to be making education more accessible, but increasing fees will do precisely the opposite. I am fully behind the Liberal Democrat party policy in wanting to scrap tuition fees altogether.'

The Government has recently launched a review of the university funding system - attracting criticism that MPs are using this review as a screen to hide their real opinions on student fees in the run up to the General Election next year. There is a very real fear that the next Government could allow universities to charge what they like for courses, effectively pricing many people out of Higher Education.

In response, the NUS have asked all incumbent MPs and parliamentary candidates to sign their Funding Our Future Pledge, so that it is clear where politicians stand on the tuition fee debate.

The Liberal Democrats are the only major party opposed to tuition fees. Lib Dems believe that those who want to study at university should not be deterred by the cost. Both Labour and the Conservatives are in favour of tuition fees and neither party has ruled out the prospect of removing the current cap on top-up fees.

Under Labour, the burden of university fees has plunged thousands of students into debt and this number is set to increase further.

Students who began university this year can expect to leave with an average debt of over £23,000; those graduating in 2016 are forecast to

be on average £32,400 in debt. Such debts will rise dramatically if students are forced to pay even more in fees.