Lib Dem uni fees row further proves political leaders out of touch with public opinion, says UCU

The union went on to accuse the Tories and Labour of 'cosy collusion' and 'using the delayed fees review as an excuse to avoid revealing their plans for university funding.'
 
The union said that Liberal Democrat activists should be applauded for ensuring the fees debate will not disappear completely from the political agenda and called on all parties to be honest with voters ahead of next year's election.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The last few days may have been uncomfortable for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, but we must welcome some actual debate at a party conference instead of the usual choreographed backslapping. What the fees row has proved, yet again, is that senior politicians are completely misguided if they believe that the wider public supports any policies that would see students and their families pay more to go to university.
 
'Liberal Democrat activists should be applauded for keeping the debate on university funding at the top of the political agenda. It is not good enough for any party to use the delayed fees review as an excuse not to clearly set out their policy. The cosy collusion between Labour and the Tories on the issue is just not good enough. All political parties must give voters the chance to make an informed choice at next year's election by clearly setting out where they stand on university funding.'