Thank you for your question. I have campaigned for a fair deal for students, ever since my time as Policy Vice-Chair of the Student Liberal Democrats, and have fought four General Elections on that basis.
As a candidate in the 2010 General Election, I pledged to oppose raising the cap on tuition fees, and to support a policy of funding tuition costs through taxation. See this interview in which I said “for me it is an absolutely touchstone issue because it is about whether you think education is something worth society paying for, as opposed to the individual paying for, and I think it is.” That’s still my position.
Given that we have LibDems in a coalition government rather than a 100% LibDem government, I understand that we will not get every LibDem policy implemented; but I am frustrated that this is a key LibDem priority that has not been delivered. I remain very proud of our MPs’ achievements in the coalition in many areas, from civil liberties to pensions, but there is definitely unfinished business in terms of fairer funding of higher education.
I believe in education for its own sake, but there’s also a good social and economic case to be made. Funding higher education is good for the individual student, of course, but also for other citizens who need teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, etc; it’s good for the economy (we have to compete on high skills not low wages in the global marketplace).
There is also an argument on the basis of inter-generational justice.
Whether its dealing with climate change or the deficit, tackling housing costs, or investing in primary education, we’ve acknowledged that it’s wrong to dump cost and problems on the next generation. That should be true of funding higher education as well. I’ve discussed the issue with Nick Clegg, and I am aware there are some technical problems with the graduate tax idea. However, I am still hopeful that pressure from LibDem MPs and campaigners will see a fairer solution to tuition fees in the future.
In terms of the London Assembly, I think there is definitely a scrutiny role in terms of looking at the impact of changes in financial support on the range of students in London and the social & economic role played by students in the capital, and also planning policies affecting student housing; even though student finanical support is itself a national policy issue.