Students across Bath are set to benefit from a reduction in tuition fees if Labour forms a government after May’s general election, and the announcement has been welcomed by locals.
The announcement, which came on Friday in a speech by Labour leader Ed Miliband, has been welcomed by Bath Labour’s parliamentary candidate, Ollie Middleton.
The reduction in fees will take effect immediately, meaning that students already at university will benefit as well as new students.
The election pledge commits a future Labour government to build a country where the next generation can do better than the last: tuition fees reduced to £6000, an apprenticeship for every school leaver who gets the basic grades, and smaller class sizes for five to seven year olds.
The Labour leader also attacked the Tories and the Liberal Democrats for betraying its election promises on tuition fees and betraying the Promise of Britain.
He said: “What has happened over the last five years is more than just a betrayal of a promise.
“It is a betrayal of an entire generation: a betrayal from their first steps to the time they stride into the world of work; a betrayal from nursery to school, college to university; a betrayal of the chance of a job and the hope of a home. And even of their ability to vote.
“It is not just bad for young people themselves. It is a disaster for Britain – because a country where the next generation is doing worse is a country in decline.”
Commenting, Ollie Middleton said: “The announcement is good news for thousands of students across Bath and up and down the country.
“Students are forever having to fork out more and more for their education, whether this be the cost of commuting to university or punitive rent increases.”
“We all remember how the Lib Dems betrayed students over their pledge to abolish tuition fees. They shouldn’t be forgiven for saddling them with unsustainable levels of debt.”
“In May, the choice is a clear one: it’s a choice between fairness and success under Labour or more broken promises and rising inequality from the Lib Dems and the Tories. The people of Bath deserve better.”
