The Manifesto Commitment

This is a serious issue and one where there is real difficulty in explaining the situation. I feel uneasy abuot this.

However, I think it is fair to say that there are two genuinely extenuating circumstances.

i) The changes will not come into effect until after the next general election, and the electorate can have their say on whether they should be introduced in that election by voting for a particular party.

ii) there is a real and genuine problem of HE funding and although it would be easier to put it off until after the next election this would cause massive problems for Universities. Better to bite the bullet now and face up to the really tough choices we face about future financing and be honest with people about those difficult choices and argue the case.

As I say I feel uneasy at the situation but having talked at length to Mininsters I do at least understand their genuine difficulty and a weak government and PM would have walked away from the difficult decisions.