friday 24th april 2015
NEWS
NEW COMMITTEE
spark volume 71, Issue 1
LIFESTYLE
Your new Spark Committee would like to introduce themselves!
SPORT
ENTERTAINMENT
Alexander McQueen
How to NOT watch a new film
Get an insider’s perspective of the Alexander McQueen exhibition ‘Savage Beauty’
Gabrielle Linnett describes her recent viewing experience of hit film ‘Cinderella’
All About That Base
Dan Stephens looks at how cheerleading is more than just poms poms and short skirts'
Can Milliband really promise tuition fees cut if elected? Experts challenge Ed and say Labour’s pledge to cut tuition fees cannot be implemented HANNAH CROFTS 2nd Year English Literature
Ed Miliband's pledge to reduce tuition fees to £6,000 by autumn 2016 has been criticised by experts who argue that it is just not viable. Miliband intends to fund this fee cut by reducing tax relief on pensions for the wealthy – specifically, those who earn more than £150,000 per year. Yet, experts have expressed their reservations on whether Labour really can fulfil this promise. The University of Birmingham's Professor Alan Cliff is one critic, although he welcomes anything that will "result in future students having less debt at the end of their studies". "Politicians and universities need to work together on issues that make a direct difference to students
He says there are: "catches with such proposals, including the extent to which a Labour Government could continue such a funding commitment over the
five years of a Parliament with all of the potential uncertainties over that period, and the extent to which future student numbers may need to be controlled to afford such proposals." Another critique comes from Michelle Highman, Chief Executive of The Money Charity. She believes that the announcement is "a step in the right direction", however, she does not see this as the most important issue to students. To her, the ever-rising cost of living
is a far more pressing matter that needs addressing. Highman says: "Politicians and universities need to work together on issues that make a direct difference to students, like paying their maintenance support monthly rather than termly and making sure they have money left to live on after paying their rent." Here at Reading, second year student Emily Smith agrees; she says: "it makes more sense to pay maintenance instalments monthly as that’s when most students pay
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their rent. This issue is something I’d prefer Ed Miliband to focus on - rather than cutting tuition he should be increasing maintenance loans and changing when they’re paid." She adds: "besides, how can he even make a pledge to cut fees when it involves cutting something else? How can I be sure he won’t later change his mind or go back on his promise like Nick Clegg? It’s all tosh to me." On the other hand, TAEDs
student Amber-May Ellis told The Spark she still has faith in Labour and their tuition fee pledge, and intends to vote for them in May. She says: "Ed knows what he’s doing. His pledge to reduce fees is a positive one and any critics are just trying to stir up trouble. I know the fee reduction won’t affect me but my sister will benefit and I want her to be able to go to university without being saddled with as much debt as me. Cutting tuition fees is very, very important."