By Richard Johnstone | 20 February 2015
Labour has been urged to ‘come clean’ on the party’s plans for the funding of higher education following speculation that it would go into May’s general election proposing to cut the maximum that can be charged from £9,000 to £6,000.
The University and College Union, which represents academics and lecturers, said Ed Miliband should make a clear commitment to higher education by both easing the burden of fees on students and ensuring universities do not lose vital funding.
It called for tuition fees to be scrapped and higher education to be funded through a hypothecated Business Education Tax collected as part of corporation tax.
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said, with only 75 days to go until the polls open, the party needed to be clearer on its policy.
‘Further delays only allow Labour to be hit with accusations of opportunism,’ she said.
‘The party should make a clear commitment to students and universities by easing the debt of students and guaranteeing vital funding for universities.
‘If we are to continue to thrive as a global academic power we need stable funding and if we are to ensure that everyone who would benefit from higher education is able to attend, we need to follow Germany’s example and make tuition free.’
