'I can't be Father Christmas on tuition fees' - Vince Cable (From Your Local Guardian)

Vincent Cable has broken so many of his election promises that no-one will be able to trust a word he says.
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The government had options. They couple have put a penny on income tax to save students from being saddled with eye-popping large debts of £35,000 plus.
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But they made a calculated political decision that they would lose less votes from making students pay in the future rather than face the immediate backlash from putting up income tax now.
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Because of the Liberals obsession with "progressive politics" which is the new term for "socialism" and "redistribution" these students will have to pay market rates for these debts.
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This will prevent the next generation from buying a house, or saving for there pensions.
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This is the problem when we have an my from the corporate world - in this case the big-bucks oil Company Shell. Vincent is completely out of touch when it comes to how hard this will hit ordinary people.

And yet C4 (http://bit.ly/9nc7a
P) reckon that the new system, although including higher fees, will be fairer for most graduates. The Govt claims that the bottom 30% of graduate earners will be better off under the new system.

Also wondering where you get the market rates, £35k debt, or how you think a penny on income tax is going to raise that much ...

I would think 'Scrooge' would be a better description for Vince as the Liberals drop even further in the polls to a 9% low of popular support.
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I think it now really only a Lab/Con two-horse race with the Liberals heading for the knacker's yard if they continue with their double standards just to be in government. I am sure this will be reflected in the next set of polls here in Twickenham and Richmond.

Phillip Taylor

Could that be a posting vaguely related to the story from Mr. Taylor? No? I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you!

tim_lennon wrote:
Could that be a posting vaguely related to the story from Mr. Taylor? No? I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you!

This is a toughh story, I have a teenager who is aiming to study medicine in two years time, and that will be for a prolongued period, not just the average 3-4 years in further education, even that will really hurt.

I am prepared as any parent would who brought their irreplaceable children into this world to support them and make sacrifices if need be to ensure they have provided if possible the best oportunities that our children decide to follow in their lives.

Picking up on Tim Lennon's point, more children/parents will benefit. The coalition is one which both sides of the Cons-Lib axis were rather surprised that it came about,

I don't think the rank and file of either party saw that one coming, but in the case of national stability and sensibility, our leaders found major common ground, and the worse alternative would inevitably have more of the same with labout as the smaller 'larger' party.

So to end the National Debt larger than half our third world countries GDP created by the inexcusable Labour party (and notice how many of the the Unions are intent on holding onto everything dear rather than negotiating sensibly) as Labour pay-masters onto this selling off of our national crown jewels to the edge of bankruptcy.

However I am delighted that our local MP, the 'Sage' of Twickenham as he has become fondly known, is now having to face unpopular choices, as indeed we are in local government, and that Dr popular TV is now having not-so-popular, equally when he climbed down on his manifesto 'Mansion Tax' threshold, changing it not just increasing it by 5% or 10%, but an incredible 100%, to £2m.

Let's hope that this idea isn't still floating around in his mind, lke when he changed his promise to his own electorate here in Twickenham as the students have been demonstrating on his door-step about.

In the same vein, i would invite the local Lib Dems to come clean, and on the big ticket items, share with the residents what they would like to have cut, and no not more CO2 tax, this is , we will all be really interersted to know what your budget was going to be in 'efficiencies' and 'cuts', which you decided, obviously for political gain, not to attract any negatives before or during or even after the May elections.

Sorry to bang on about this , but let's step up to the big boys's game, not this sniping which is based on half-truths, and demeans consultation, and also demeans working with the community looking to find alternative solutions which albeit may be an alien idea to the Lib Dems, rather like the Labour party in fact Nationally who appear to think that throwing money at a problem is the only solution, and looking for better ways of doing things involving the intelligent people who live in our Borough.

So are the Lib Dems going to work as they are Nationally, or are they going to continue this charade locally? Sadly I think the latter is most likely from judging by the last 30 years of local history and lack of care for our business and environment.

Election manifesto’s should be treated as legally binding contracts between the political parties and the electorate. Just like a company can be sued for not providing an advertised service in exchange for our hard earned money an elected political party should be legally held accountable for promising policies in exchange for our valuable vote.

What is the latest on Dr Cable's further barmy proposal to charge people more if they save up and pay tuition fees in full?

I was bought up to live within my means and never borrow more than I could afford to pay back. Consequently, I have saved long and hard and made sacrifices in order to be able to pay my son's fees when he goes to University next year. I don't want him to be saddled with huge debts for years to come and if I choose to use my money in this way, rather than buying the latest HD plasma TVs, designer clothing, top of the range car or whatever, that is my choice surely?

Under MY MP Vince Cable's proposals, I would be hit hard for NOT getting into debt and written off as "tax dodger" ! But there again, the little terraced dolls house I live in is worth half a million as it's in his constituency, so I must have far more money than sense....

I think I shall write to him for an explanation.

spelling correction - brought up not bought up !

Julie: the BIS press release says: ' . . • The Government is committed to the progressive nature of the repayment system. It is therefore important that those on the highest incomes post graduation are not able unfairly to buy themselves out of this progressive system by paying off their loans early. The Government will consult on potential early repayment mechanisms - similar to those paid by people who pre-pay their mortgages. These mechanisms would need to ensure that graduates on modest incomes who strive to pay off their loans early through regular payments are not penalised.'
http://tinyurl.com/3
856hmo

You should certainly let Vince know what you think on this thorny issue as policy is as yet unformed.

Thank you Chris - I will !

Looks like Twickenham will be set for a by-election if the promised right to recall" legislation is introduced.
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Vince has broken his manifesto promises so he should face the electorate