OUSU gets top-less in the Commons
OUSU AND THE Liberal Democrats may not appear the most natural duo, but this week the two linked up in a dramatic attempt to challenge the government's stance on top-up fees. The Lib Dems agreed to "present OUSU's views to the Commons" after Justin Bates - infamous OUSU anti-fees campaigner - persuaded politicians for the opposition to attack the government for its refusal to rule out top-up fees as a possible future development.
Bates - former Co-Chair of OUSU's Finance and Funding Committee and a key figure in discussions between OUSU and the Liberal Democrats - said that OUSU's involvement in the Commons was motivated by a fear of being taken unawares by a government which seems determined to tax Oxford's students for the education they receive. "Having been caught by surprise when tuition fees were introduced, we don't want to be in the same position vis-a-vis top-up fees" he told the Oxford Student.
As a result, the House of Commons saw Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy adopt the OUSU policy of unequivocal opposition to new fees last Wednesday.
OUSU's policy was decided by a 98% majority at a meeting of the Special Council earlier this term, partly on the basis of questionnaire results from college JCRs. President Anneliese Dodds, maintains that it is to press the government "to re-affirm their commitment to rule out top-up fees." It comes in the light of the proposals made last week by the Russell Group of Universities. If implemented, these could leave students at top institutions such as Oxford having to pay £6,000 in addition to the usual £1,000 tuition fee.
United by their opposition to this possibility, OUSU's Finance and Funding Committee and the Lib Dems decided to make a stand together. Close co-operation between the two - Bates has been "often in contact" with Cheltenham MP Nigel Jones - culminated in the laying of two Early-Day Motions in the Commons. The first was condemning the Russell Group's proposals, the second calling on the government "to prohibit the introduction of differential tuition fees." Both motions failed as Labour MPs were whipped to oppose them.
In a later Opposition debate, Charles Kennedy criticised the government's approach to opportunity in higher education as "grossly deficient." This time a motion was passed: "This House believes that true opportunity for all requires that access to higher education should be based on merit not background." But no commitment on top-up fees was extracted from the government and Labour were prompt to dismiss Kennedy's attack. Tony Blair replied: "we simply have to change the system of finance."
Cat Muge, Co-Chair of the Finance and Funding Committee, was not too disheartened by Blair's dead-end response. "I don't think we're going to achieve that aim in a couple of hours of debate," she said. She observed that broaching the subject was still worthwhile as it means the government "can't fudge the issue any longer."
This much having been achieved, OUSU will discuss its next steps in its Head Government Council this week. Muge says that the measures adopted will include the persistent lobbying of MPs, "raising the profile of the debate," and continuing to "press the government for a policy." This approach would have the support of Hannah Lownsbrough of Oxford University Liberal Democrats, who thinks it likely to succeed. She is "very optimistic" about the prospects, urging: "Look at the experience in Scotland."
Whether such optimism is justified in the light of the government's stance remains to be seen, but at the very least OUSU can say they have aired its views in Britain's most important political forum.
8th Jun 2000