Sheffield Labour Let Down Students On Fees Hike (Paul Scriven)

Sheffield Labour Let Down Students On Fees Hike

May 8, 2009 7:33 PM

Paul Scriven campaigning against tuition fees Cllr Paul Scriven, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesman for Sheffield Central, has challenged his Labour opponent to denounce local Labour councilors for refusing to vote against increasing University top-up fees as part of a Governments review this year.

Cllr Scriven moved a proposal at a the full meeting of Sheffield City Council today that expressed concerns at reports of calls to increase top-up fees by up to £20,000 and called for top-up fees to be scrapped. Not one Labour Councillor voted in favour of the proposal.

Cllr Paul Scriven said: "I am calling on Mr Blomfield to publicly denounce his Labour colleagues' decision not to back my proposal to Council. It is simply wrong to charge people for wanting to attend University to better themselves. Any increase to the current fees would be another slap in the face for students."

Paul will be standing against the Labour candidate Paul Blomfield at the next General Election. Mr. Blomfield is a manager at Sheffield University Students Union.

Cllr Paul Scriven's proposal was passed thanks to the Liberal Democrats who hold a majority on the Council. Paul added: "I believe that's it's wrong to saddle thousands of Sheffield's young people with huge debts just because they want to further themselves and enter higher education."

"The decision by the Labour Government to start charging for attending University was wrong and Liberal Democrats believe it should be reversed immediately. I'm delighted that the Council have voted to back our proposal despite the opposition from Labour."