Farron makes pledge to voters on student fees

Tim Farron today signed a pledge to voters ahead of the forthcoming general election that he would vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament.

Around 3,000 young people in South Lakeland are able to vote this time for the first time, many of whom are students.

A recent YouGov poll commissioned by NUS revealed that 88% of the public does not think the review should even consider increasing fees, while a majority believes that it should look at alternatives. Last year, research by Opinionpanel showed that a political party's position on tuition fees would affect how 79% of students would vote in a general election.

The Vote for Students funding pledge states:

"I pledge to vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament, and will put pressure on the Government to introduce a fairer alternative."

Tim Farron said:

"I think it's unfair that the people in parliament who gained the most from a free education now pull up the ladder for the next generation. I am working hard to protect local higher education and that is why today I pledge to students and their families that if re-elected I will vote against any proposed rise in the cost of Higher Education. I will also vote to scrap fees altogether."

NUS President Wes Streeting said:

"The vast majority of the general public is against higher fees, and although this review has been set up to report after the general election, voters deserve to know where their MP stands on this highly emotive issue.

"I am delighted that Tim Farron is standing up for students and their families in Westmorland & Lonsdale by signing up to this pledge. He has demonstrated his determination to give every young person in Westmorland & Lonsdale a fair chance to go to university."