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Conference and fees for students – by Liv Bailey
October 2006
As always I was impressed with the venue, facilities, organisation and the quality of the debates at Conference this year. As always, Tony Blair gave an outstanding speech, which justifiably won him a lengthy standing ovation.
Whatever one might think about his current political status, there is absolutely no doubt that he is in a class of his own when it comes to communication and charisma. Gordon Brown, assuming it is Gordon Brown, will have an almost impossible act to follow.
Bill Clinton also spoke at the conference and, like the Prime Minister, his delivery was excellent. For those of you who have yet to see it, you can download it from the Labour Party website. It was an inspirational speech in which he reminded the delegates of the very significant achievements made by our government, none of which were by accident. He also reminded the audience of just how quickly that could all be reversed by a Tory government. He was incredibly well received and it made me think just how different things might have been had the Democrats remained in power!
Since conference one issue in particular has come to my attention. After the implementation of top up fees discussion has already, worryingly, turned to the cap - and to whether and when it will be lifted. At my university the Vice Chancellor has already been talking about charging up front fees of up to 15,000 pounds. If the cap was lifted on top up fees then what we would see would be a multi- tiered education system in which the elite universities can charge so much money that no working class kid would ever have a chance of going there. Inevitably the less prestigious universities will charge less and we would see poorer people getting a poorer class of education.
I marched yesterday in London with the NUS to urge the government to ensure that the cap isn't removed. I'm sure you'll all agree that without the cap University would once again become an opportunity for the privileged few. I urge you all to press your local MP to see the dangers that are fast approaching.