University Tuition Fees

Ed Miliband: A cut in the cap is opposed by many leading university vice-chancellors, according to The Guardian. Mandelson comments come as pressure builds on Labour to set out its plans for tuition fees. In a speech to Universities UK, the former Labour business secretary said that if Labour announces plans to reduce university tuition fees to £6,000 it is vital that replacement funding from taxation is identified and announced at the same time, because that will ensure that no credibility gap is opened up either around university funding or the Labour party commitment to reducing the fiscal deficit . Ed Miliband appears determined to press ahead with a cut in the fees cap from £9,000 to £6,000 in line with a pledge he has made previously, but has been facing internal questions about how the foregone income could be replaced. The Liberal Democrat business secretary, Vince Cable, has written to Miliband urging him to reject moves to cut tuition fees to £6,000 to end uncertainty in the sector . Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Friday morning, Cable said Labour plan to cut university tuition fees from £9,000 to £6,000 would be a populist gesture that would achieve nothing and do a lot of damage . A cut in the cap on tuition fees would cost just under £2bn. The party is expected to clarify its position before the end of next week. It is understood Labour has agreed in principle to go ahead with the lower cap, and details of how the lost income will be found for universities is being finalised. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.