Motions inextricably linked
The debate on this motion in the House of Commons yesterday:
That the draft Higher Education (Basic Amount) (England) Regulations 2010, which were laid before this House on 29 November, be approved.
was inextricably linked to that on
That, for the purpose of section 24 of the Higher Education Act 2004, the higher amount should be increased to £9,000, and to £4,500 in the cases described in regulation 5 of the draft regulations in Command Paper Cm 7986, and that the increase should take effect from 1 September 2012.
However, whilst I do not agree with the trebling of fees for full-time undergraduates, as has been made clear in recent posts. As one who has been a part-time undergraduate the provisions on the inclusion of part-time students within the student loan system for the first time is one part of the Bill with which I can agree.So, as Tim Jones says on Facebook,
..Thanks for giving priority to low-paid workers, the less prosperous graduates and part-time students. The poorest and weakest in our society don’t make the most fuss, but I am glad to see that their interests are being looked after by people like you.
response to my post to Alistair Carmichael
Tempers were raised – now for the real work
Yesterday evening, many tempers were extremely high, my own amongst them. Since last night, I have calmed down a bit. I am still not happy at what the 28 Liberal Democrat MPs who voted for the government did, but I accept that they more than likely sat down and thought very carefully about what they thought was most important for our country in these days of austerity.
Now that I have calmed down (a bit), we have the real work to get stuck into. The work of going back into the country and making sure that all those who voted for the Liberal Democrats – as well as those that did not – know what differences the Party has brought to the Coalition. There are many things that simply would not have been in the Coalition Programme were it not for our MPs in government. So for reference do go and read it…
Coalition Agreement in IssuuViewer
Note to reader: England only
We must remember that last night’s vote on the draft Higher Education (Basic Amount) (England) Regulations 2010 are just that. Regulations for England. The rest of the United Kingdom (save for Cornwall) has devolved administrations to decide on what happens on Higher Education there. So we will have to see what the Scottish Parliament, Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, and the Northern Ireland Assembly decide when the subject is raised in their chambers as inevitably it will be.
Related Articles
- Students clash with cops as British lawmakers vote on fees (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
- Coalition wins tuition fees vote by majority of 21 (independent.co.uk)
- U.K. Parliament votes to triple tuition fees (salon.com)
- Lib Dem aides quit to vote ‘No’ (mirror.co.uk)
- Decision day for tuition fees row (bbc.co.uk)
- Students, police clash as U.K. debates tuition hike (ctv.ca)
- A close vote on tuition fees (economist.com)
Gyronny Herald 
Come on, Michael… This is a Tory government whose most liberal member is Ken Clarke… The most significant difference which the Lib Dems have brought to the coalition has been to give a superficial impression of consensus politics (useful for the conservatives, since it makes it easier to push their ultra-Thatcherite agenda, but scarcely a reason for the rest of us to be thankful). Other than that, a voting reform (if it happens) which is not proportional, has never been Lib Dem policy anyway, and in some circumstances might well creates the same kinds of unfairness as FPTP does.
This being said, there were some relatively beneficial concessions made yesterday, which perhaps would not have been made if there had not been potentially rebellious libs to placate.
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