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Crucial top-up fees vote too close to call as Concrete goes to press ALYSSA MORRISEY
By the time Concrete appears, the result of the crucial vote on the introduction of t op-up fees will be known. At the time of going to press, however. it was still unclear whether the Govemment had succeeded in wlnnlng enough support to prevent defeat on an Issue that could
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education system. As of Monday night, a threatening number of rebel MPs still stood film in their plans to oppose the govemment white paper that would allow universities to raise tuition fees to up to £3000 per year. Universities that choose to raise their fees from the current rate of £1125 are required to abolish up-front fees altogether; the money will then be recovered from the graduates once their annual income reaches £15000. The bill also guarantees £3000 in aid for the poorest students. Though university students are almost unanimous in their opposition, in parliament the situation has been much more complex, with many Labour MPs torn between opposing the Issue and supporting their Prime Minister. The next week and a half will be a nail-biting time for Tony Blair, who today faces the report of
the Hutton Enquiry, less than 24 hours after the topup fees vote. Should both go badly for Mr Blalr, it could mean the end of his premiership. On Friday, Education Secretary Charles Clark claimed to "feel very confident", although he admitted "the vote will still be very tight indeed." At the height of the opposition, 155 Labour MPs signed a motion against top-up fees, though many, including excabinet minister Chrls Smith, appear to have changed their mind, in the face of a campaign of concessions and promises from Mr Clark and Mr Blair. lf the govemment have indeed suffered their first defeat since taking office in 1997, it will have taken the combined might of all the opposition parties, plus 82 Labour rebels. Here at UEA, the anti-fees battle was fought with letter writing campaigns, countless
publicity stunts, questions posed directly to Mr Clark (our local MP) and trips to national NUS marches. But while most students voiced their uncertainty regarding the ethics of top-up fees, many are doubtful that the bill will fall in parliament. '"Ibere seems to be no real solution," second-year student Burgoyne JacquJ admitted. "I definitely don't think that it's good to charge students more, but then again, I also heard t h e University was in Debt, and they have to get the money from somewhere." Since 200 1, Mr Blair and Mr Clark have vowed not to obtain the £10 blll1on gap in education funding from taxpayers. Both believe that the money should come from the students who benefit from a university education. Both
also insist that the bill would attract more students from poorer backgrounds into the education system. However, students say that the bill will do the opposite. According to Union Communications Officer Ned Glasler, "Students from poorer backgrounds have more problems with debt. 1hls is a well known fact. The fees are such a disincentive for students to go to a university." For future UEA students, the bill would mean up to £20000 of debt after Mr Glasler
cause dents to choose their university and courses based on cost. He said,
"Differential fees between different universities are the worst part of the proposal." While there Is currently no official UEA policy on the level of fees the University will introduce, it is widely felt that most courses will charge the full £3000. ViceChancellor Dr Davld Eastwood has voiced his support for the Govemment's plans.
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