Leader of Liverpool students' union issues warning over proposed university tuition fees rise

Nov 4 2010 Liverpool Echo

Mr Wright said: "This is a horrendous level of fees and the level of debt that will put on to the student. I have no doubt the University of Liverpool will charge as much as it can. When you have fees of £9,000 – and when maintenance loans are added on – students will leave with debts of £40,000 after three years.”

At Westminster, there were predictions that at least 10 Lib-Dem MPs would rebel against higher fees. At the last election, all the party's candidates pledged to vote against any increase.

One certain rebel is Southport MP John Pugh, who said: "I will vote against any rise in tuition fees, unless a rabbit is pulled out of the hat – and there is no sign of that.

“What's happening is that the government is removing funding for most subjects and forcing students to pay instead, which is a great concern.

"I'm also concerned students will not get value for money.

“Fees in US universities may be higher, but they deliver a better service. “Too many British universities give a poor teaching experience."

Graham Donelan, Liverpool Hope University's secretary, said that decisions on fee levels would not be made until it knew what funding it would receive.

He added: “There is a lot to digest.”

And Dr John Cater, the Vice-Chancellor of Ormskirk's Edge Hill university, said he regretted the hike in fees, but pointed to the huge cuts in university funding.