Minister is warned: 'future of British community relations is in your hands'

The warning came from lecturers' leader Paul Mackney, joint general secretary of UCU, in a meeting in the House of Commons.

The lobby was organised by UCU and organisations in a 'Save ESOL' campaign. Around a thousand students and tutors from as far as Middlesbrough and Exeter were drenched by torrential showers as they queued to lobby MPs. An 'ESOL class' took place on Parliament Green.

Over 140 MPs have urged the government to rethink its plans, which critics say will deny affordable courses to thousands of people keen to study. The government's plan was strongly criticised in the Lords this week.

Bill Rammell today indicated the government was considering five possible changes to its plans, news cautiously welcomed by UCU.

UCU joint general secretary Paul Mackney said: 'After years it finally looked as though the government had got it right. The Prime Minster and chancellor were exhorting non-English speakers to go on courses and they joined in their thousands. It was a success story and now you are in danger of wrecking it. You have a decision to make which could lead to social cohesion or social division. The future of British community relations is in your hands.

'I welcome indications that there may be some rethinking going on but there is a need for serious changes. ESOL is an investment not a cost and ministers should use resources accordingly.'

Other speakers included MPs from Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties, college principals, senior national trade unionists, and spokespeople from the Refugee Council and organisations representing language tutors and adult education tutors and students.

UCU says that the contribution of ESOL is educational, social and economic and the cost of increasing provision could easily be met from not just the education and skills budget but also from the Home Office and DTI, if 'joined-up government' was applied. The union wants chancellor Gordon Brown to reconsider ESOL's funding in the current comprehensive spending review