Warm words not enough: UCU responds to Lord Mandelson's Labour conference speech

The union said that although Lord Mandelson hinted that students had to contribute to their cost of a degree, he needed to let voters know how much a degree would actually cost students and their families before a general election.
 
UCU added that the political parties could no longer fudge the issue after new polling revealed the general public's clear opposition to any increase in the cost of going to university. UCU commissioned polling from YouGov looking at voters' attitudes to education. The results revealed that 62% of those polled opposed any increase in university fees. The figure rose to an overwhelmingly 85% of young people (18-24 year-olds). For full details visit: Beware revenge of 'top-up fees generation' poll warns Labour

'We have heard warm words...What we really need to see is some action.'
Sally Hunt
UCU general secretary
 

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Despite his warm words, Lord Mandelson hinted that students needed to contribute to the cost of their education. What voters have a right to know is how much? It is not acceptable for any of the political parties to fudge such a crucial issue, especially now they know the general public is so opposed to any increases in the cost of university education.
 
'We have heard warm words now from both the prime minister and Lord Mandelson on higher education. What we really need to see is some action. We will not create a better or fairer education system, where all who have talent can genuinely benefit, if we do not drastically alter the current system. The bottom line is that charging students more to go to university is not going to encourage those potential students that are already being put off by the financial barriers.'