News
Twenty one Norfolk candidates have pledged to vote against an increase in fees
Twenty one candidates in Norfolk have pledged not to increase student fees if elected as the region’s next MPs.
The candidates were responding to pressure from students at the University of East Anglia and Norwich University College of the Arts not to sting students with more debt.
The list released today by the National Union of Students [NUS] includes Norfolk candidates from the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the UK Independence Party as well as two candidates from the Labour Party – John Cook (Norwich North) and Peter Smith (South West Norfolk) - who have broken ranks from the party line.
Nationally, over 1000 candidates have pledged not to vote for an increase in fees. These include 200 Labour, 400 Liberal Democrat, 200 Green and 200 UKIP candidates. Senior Labour figures who have declared their opposition to a rise in fees include Phil Woolas, Tony McNulty and Jon Cruddas.
The Liberal Democrats have outlined plans to abolish tuition fees over six years and both the party’s leader, Nick Clegg, and its Treasury spokesman, Vince Cable, have signed the pledge.
In Norwich South, which is seen by many as a four-way marginal where the student and academic vote could prove decisive, three candidates have signed the pledge – Simon Wright, Liberal Democrats; Steve Emmens, UKIP and Adrian Ramsay, Green.
A recent poll in the constituency showed that 84% of residents did not support a rise in tuition fees. Charles Clarke, the Labour Party candidate and former Education Secretary, and the Conservative Party candidate Antony Little have decided not to sign the pledge.
Natasha Barnes, the Communications Officer from the Union of UEA Students said: “It is encouraging that so many of those seeking to represent Norfolk in the next parliament have made a firm commitment to protect the system of student fees from further damage,”
Nationally, students look set to swing the election in a number of key seats, especially here in Norwich South, and to win our respect and our votes politicians must come clean on their position on fees.”