The Prime Minister has flown back to
the UK for Prime Ministers Question time, after last week’s
fiasco when Nick Clegg stood in for him.
Last week Harriett Harman the Deputy Labour Leader asked Nick
Clegg twice how he was going to vote on the proposed increase
in tuition fees. She said: "People
will judge you on this. If you vote against, that's the only principled
principle. If you abstain it's a cop out; if you vote for it's
a sell out. Which is it?"
Nick Clegg, wearing his Conservative Head, was aware that students
were protesting outside Parliament, and this could have had a
bearing on what he said. Mr Clegg replied that the system proposed
was "fairer" than that inherited from Labour
and accused the opposition of failing to present any alternative.
He said "all graduates will pay less per month" under
the government's proposals than under the regime inherited from
Labour.
He went on to say that a graduate
“Care Worker on £21,000 a year, would only pay back
£7.00 per month, as opposed to the current
£81.00 per month and the proposed £36.00 per month
from the Labour party.” I wasn’t aware that a care
worker needed a degree, but assuming they do, and take a 2 year
course at £9,000 per year, and they don’t need any
further grants or loans for living accommodation and books they
will end up with an £18,000 debt, repayable [with interest
from day 1] at the rate of £7.00 per month.
£7 per month
equals £84.00 per year is this correct or just a lie to
mislead parliament? At a rough estimate, if we assume the care
worker doesn’t damage their backs by lifting old people,
assume that there is no interest payable [a fat chance] and the
care worker doesn’t get a pay rise, and is in constant employment.
Given these hypothetical suppositions it will take the care worker
just 214 years to repay the university fees! NOW THAT IS FAIR,
ISN’ IT? Or is it an ill conceived plan to mislead Parliament!
Is it fair, well no it isn’t a fair representation; most
students are expecting a debt of £36,000 or £50,000.
If the video doesn't show,you can watch
the televised Prime Ministers Question time on the BBC
website.
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