Isn't the official policy of the Liberal party still that they will scrap fees over a six year period ?![]()
Prince-Charles-Camilla-006.jpg
Probably picture of the day. I should deplore it and support peaceful protesting, but if I'm honest I think the likes of the anti-war marches and countryside alliance protest make it easy for the government to totally ignore it and sweep things aside. Good to see the youth finally getting angry and seeing Nick Clegg's smug face is enough to anger anybody. You can't keep trotting out 'coalition compromise' as an excuse for broken pledges.
Isn't the official policy of the Liberal party still that they will scrap fees over a six year period ?![]()
Is that an egg?
You know me, I`m no royalist, but attacking Prince Charles who is seems to be the only person who encourages opportunities FOR young people isn`t really going to do much good is it?
xx
There are some issues that never seem to be discussed in 'the media' which I am unclear about. So, can someone enlighten me about a few things please? What is the role of the universities in this? Are the universities compelled to charge these fees, or do they have a choice? Also, have the students included in their protests the fact that Scottish and Welsh students don't have to pay them?
I personally do not have a problem with students making a contribution to paying their fees, but �9000 a year is a ridiculous amount. I may be stupid here but surely a compromise position would be for the education authorities of all UK based students to collect a significantly reduced fee per year from them each student (using the current system) and then dole it out ot the universities.
I was willing to give the coalition a chance ...... but they seem determined to cock it up at almost every opportunity. Cameron must be really happy that Nick Clegg is around to take most of the flak. I can't see the Lib Dems recovering from this, especially if Clegg remains leader. It looks like we may be headed down the road of having a 'real' two party state and, as most of the time these days it's difficult to tell which is which, where will that leave us?
I don`t think they have a choice, it`s up to the education authority and the fees are probably not individually set by each authority either. So, I don`t really know who has the ultimate say. I was lucky, I went to uni as a mature student so got my fees paid as it was worked out on my own means, although I have a massive loan to repay which I borrowed for living expenses. It`s the parents that foot the bill for the actual fees for their kids in this if the parents have an income.
I too was willing to give the government a chance, I understood about certain cuts, but they`ve gone too far now. We need to repay our debt, fair enough, but to direct some people into poverty ( give it another couple of years), is just bad politics isn`t it?
Sorry, I don`t know much about politics, I am just going by what I see and hear.
xx
Last edited by faginsgirl; 10-12-10 at 10:21 AM.
I doubt they knew it was Chas, just that it was some sort of VIP.
If I were an English student, the fact that Scots get their fees paid wouldn't be any consolation especially since I assume Scottish Liberal MPs voted for the increase. I assume universities can charge less...but they have to get the money from somewhere...
Cameron is just doing what the Tories ideologically do, even if there were not a deficit I'm sure many of the cuts would have been introduced (I'm not opposed to all either). It's a tad odd when you get Lib Dems voting for cuts and some Tories voting against... almost as if the Libs have split.
There have been many very strong and valid points made above, but my one over-riding emotion about all the television coverage I've seen is one of anger that, once again, a minority of mindless morons have diluted what would have been a peaceful - and therefore powerful - protest against these proposed rises. I have much sympathy with the bona-fide student, now worried that they will not be able to proceed with their studies because of financial limitations, but how on earth does trashing Whitehall buildings further their cause? If you're there to protest legitimately, why are you dressed like a para-military? Why do you need to join a peaceful march carrying a metal bar?
It is obviously very difficult to get a truly balanced picture of what goes on at these events, but I must say I do feel sorry for our policemen. What chance do they really have? If they sit back and let these idiots run-riot they are accused of not being prepared and failing in their duty, but if they step in and try to prevent these acts of wanton violence and criminal damage, they are accused of using heavy-handed tactics. It makes me very angry that in our so-called progressive, developed society, there are people out there who think it is perfectly acceptable to behave in this way. Any right-minded person, irrespective of political opinion, should wholeheartedly condemn what has gone on.
Last edited by Number Six; 10-12-10 at 10:47 AM.
I think the LibDems have split. We certainly needed a change in government and I was hoping that the LibDems would have a restraining hand on the back of the Tory collar, but it appears Clegg has a very limp wrist. Some of the cuts I agree with as well, but the speed with which they are being imposed is too much IMHO. People need to be able to take the situation on board and have a bit of time to digest how it will effect their own lives. At the moment they're not getting that. I agree with No6 that the violence is deplorable and IMHO it will ultimately serve no purpose other than to make the government dig it's heels in. There was a student on the radio last night spouting off about how the Poll Tax riots in the 80s brought down the government and that he and his friends were going to do the same to this one .... even if that were true I can't see these riots and this issue having that effect.
Last edited by batman; 10-12-10 at 10:57 AM.
A british student interviewed said he was against the possibility that coursses/lessons (about economy in particular) could be sponsored by private companies in schools
In this case, their purpose would tend to give their "own view" and "own recruitment" methods...
Last edited by moonfleet; 10-12-10 at 11:18 AM.
They do have a choice - but the government has (or is about to) withdrawn the funding they used to give to pay the course fees for UK students. So now they'll have to pay for the course in the same way as foreign students always had to.
The Scottish parliament and the Welsh assembly are looking to support their students a while longer but may well follow the same path
Steve
The problem the LIb Dems seem to be having is they made their manifesto this year and like every year they didn't think they would actually get into any position of power so they put all sorts of nonsense in it. Now their bluff has been called and they have to face up to the reality of having some sort of power
Steve
The difficulty is that you should condemn the few who were causing the trouble and who got all the publicity but you should praise the many who had a peaceful protest objecting to a crazy change in the rules which could severely damage the university system.
The meeja of course only focuses on the few - because it's more dramatic.
The police have been too heavy handed on the many who weren't causing any trouble and not heavy handed enough on the few who were causing the trouble
Steve
Surely the only casualty of the Poll tax riots was Mrs Thatcher, who was deposed as Tory leader in November 1990. Her successor, John Major, led the party to an election victory in 1992 and served a full term until their defeat in 1997 brought us Tony Blair and New Labour.
Am I correct in thinking that �9000 is the maximum annual tuition fee that can be charged ?. If this is the case, is this an attempt to encourage competition amongst Universities?
If this is true perhaps you could explain the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests. Just a guy walking home.
Imho there are a section of protesters and a section of the police that want a ruck. Rather than diffuse such a situation both seem to want confrontation.
Cameron has his brown tongue out with Prince Charles. Not that I condone violence what so ever but Cameron`s only concern seems to be that of the royal couple and not what happened elsewhere with this riot.
What has made me angry is that the statue of Winston Churchill has been vandalised. There was no point in that and it`s highly disrespectful! And these are the people who want to enter our Universities and study British history and politics.
xx
Last edited by faginsgirl; 10-12-10 at 11:47 AM.