Battlefront You're Already Involved

As a Member of the UK Youth Parliament (MYP) for Suffolk I am actually against University Tuition Fees being abolished as I feel that nothing is for free and now that they are adults students should be able to manage their money responsibly and get a part time job to help pay for the fees. I also feel that it could mean that the education that universities currently give at a high level could go down hill dramatically as the number of students competing for spoaces would increase meaning higher administration costs so there would be dramatically less money to put towards the education. It would also make the qualifications less valuable as more and more people would be getting them. However saying this I do think that the tuition fees have to go down as they are currently far too high and even with a part time job could put you in debt.

Matthew Percy, 24 June 2010 21:45

the alternatives to the students of university having fees is for everyone else paying for them in their taxes. is that not unfair that the users and beneficiaries of something don't pay for them.

davidmcmanus, 05 May 2010 11:19

Well said, it is literally the only thing holding me back from Uni! Why should we be entering jobs with a backlog of debt?! Shouldn't everyone have the right to a free education. . I can understand accomodation feees, but Uni fees should be cut.

laura, 27 April 2010 18:45

James, sorry can't agree with this campaign, when I wanted to go to Uni, there was only one option, you paid or didn't go, there were no grants, no loans etc... either your parents paid or you got a job and studied at the same time... as a Tax Payer I RESENT my taxes being used in this way especially when up to 30% of students leave Uni in their 1st or 2nd year and then the tax payer never gets the money back....

Val, 16 March 2010 04:58

Saw the Battlefront programme..... Just a pity that JG didn't ask why Top ups and Tuition fees were free in Scotland, heavily subsidised in Wales but full on and ever increseasing in England! WHY are students in England being penalised??? Tuition fees are the tip of an unfair iceberg. Prescription charges, free in Wales, free by 2013 in Scotland - yet ever-increasing towards 10 quid a go in England. Add to that Eye test and Dental check charges, the non-availability of expensive cancer drugs in England, the selling off of old people's homes to fund their residential care (just in England, obviously) and the fact that per head, people in England get the least spent on them compared with the Welsh, Northern Irish and Scots. James, mate.... as an aspiring politician, do you reckon it's fair that Gordon Brown can bring in legislation on Education, Health, Housing, Transport, Planning, Local Government etc that affects 50 million people in England, but not one of his constituents in his own Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency because they are all devolved to the Scottish Executive? Is that democratic and fair? Is it right that England, the founder of the two-tier parliamentary system and the oldest nation state in Europe is the only democratic country in the whole world without a national parliament of its own? An English Parliament would mean SMALLER more accountable government for England. 70% of all business currently debated in Westminster is exclusively English in application - and an EP would get rid of at least 250 superfluous MPs from NI, Wales and Scotland. At a stroke, the Westminster model would be redundant - and good riddance to bad rubbish. The House of Lords could be converted to a 100 member elected chamber to discuss and legislate for federal matters such as tax, foreign affairs etc. On a personal level, I thought you were pretty good - the only disappointment was that you didn't smack those 3 political vampires who you had to rehearse your speech to.... They know nowt - and are part of the infestation that currently afflicts the Westminster village.... The public want HONESTY!! Not greasy haired, power spex, Gauloise chain smoking advice from political hyenas. Also, I notice your organisation has Scottish, Welsh and NI arms - but none for England Yoof........... Isn't democracy wonderful? I just wish we in England had some now and again....

Steve Garrett, 21 October 2009 18:16

Hi, I've just watched the programme to. Just to thankyou for what you are doing, I'm a law student and the amount of debt im going to get into is ridiculous. why do we need to pay so much for university when after the three years we bring skills to the labour market and these skills are important to the economy. more income means more tax for politicians to claim on bath plugs, dog food and mortgages on rented properties. Ive actually started getting into so much debt that I have also looked into giving up university even though Law is a subject ive been interested in for 6yrs now. My university is making 125 members of staff reduntant next year and getting lecturers to put more hours in for the same money. so if costs are being cut (and hopefully this is across the board) will our tuition fees decrease inline with this?

Hannah, 21 October 2009 11:14

its even worse, think about how easy it is for private schooled students. Not only do they get a better direction and help for university applications, a much better education, and smaller class sizes than comprehensive sixth-formers, they have no problem financially when in university. What a great country this is.

Dan, 21 October 2009 10:05