Young Greens Condemn Rise in Tuition Fees
Today the Young Greens condemned the announcement that tuition fees will be doubled for students in England.
“It's outrageous that the Coalition Government is even thinking about raising tuition fees, let alone doubling them. This amounts to a tax on students” Young Greens Co-chair Sam Coates said.
The Young Greens, the youth branch of the Green Party, are planning on attending Fund Our Future: Stop the Education Cuts march on the 10th of November, and are the only youth branch of a national political party listed as a supporter organisation1.
Sam Coates also challenged Liberal Youth, the Liberal Democrat youth wing, to stick to their principles. “The Young Greens will be marching for free education and to show our opposition to the Coalition's cuts. If Liberal Youth are against these rises in tuition fees they should march with us on Wednesday and make sure their MPs and ministers stick to their promise of supporting free education.”
“The amount of student debt this rise will bring, along with the lack of affordable housing and high youth unemployment, is driving the gap between our generation and previous ones even wider.”
Sam Coates continued “Only through the removal of tuition fees can we expect young people to enter university without the thought of massive student debt on graduation on their minds, and with the jobs market so tough for young people, a degree is looking more and more essential.”
Meanwhile, Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, said “Today is a dark day for the students of the future – and for Lib Dem voters who have seen, yet again, their Party’s leader make a shameful u-turn on a key election pledge. The Greens are now the only main political party that support free education for all. A cap of £9,000 is simply unacceptable for a country that values social mobility and inclusiveness. This announcement will mean our public degrees will be among the most costly in the world. Many people will be priced out of going to university – and those who do go will be saddled with huge debt. All this at a time when our young people are facing increasing unemployment and anxiety about the future.
“A more progressive policy to address the challenge of funding our higher education would be a business education tax levied on the top 4% of UK companies, which would generate enough annually to abolish tuition fees and take our public investment in higher education up to the average in other comparable countries.”
ENDS
Sam Coates is available for comment
Notes to Editors:
Young Greens Media Enquiries:
07906083213
National Press Office:
020 7561 0282
