Candidates Clash In Student Fees Debate - What Really Happened?

The two main contenders for the Folkestone and Hythe seat are giving mixed messages about a debate they took part in on the issue of student fees.

The ‘Future of Fees’ debate, organized by student group Canterbury United and held on Feb 23 at Canterbury Christchurch University, featured Liberal Democrat Candidate Lynne Beaumont and Conservative Candidate Damian Collins.

Speaking to FUTS, Ms Beaumont said “Damian had a tough time of it during the debate. He advocated higher fees for better universities, sentiments which did not go down well with the students in the room.”

The Shepway Lib Dem site carries a video of Ms Beaumont addressing the meeting, posted by fellow Shepway Lib Dem Gary Fuller. In the clip Ms Beaumont says she “will do everything I can possibly do to make sure [students don’t leave university in debt]”.

Ms Beaumont references Mr Collins’ address, saying; “Damian talked about paying more for universities that get better results. I think that’s abhorrent. That means the people that can afford to go to places with better results are the only ones who can go there. That is wrong.”

The clip ends with applause for Ms Beaumont. There is no equivalent video of Mr Collins addressing the meeting.

When asked for his comments, Mr Collins stated that Ms Beaumont was ‘misrepresenting’ what he said, but admitted that some issues were ‘contentious’.

In a written response, Mr Collins states; ‘I said students should have more information on fees … and if we had a situation where colleges were charging different amounts they should have to back up why they were charging more, and why they thought it was worth paying.

‘When I said this there wasn't a reaction. Later in the debate Lynne accused me of advocating top universities charging more, which I hadn't.

‘Of course some students want tuition fees scrapped altogether, and that was the most contentious issue in the debate but not even the National Union of Students is advocating this. Their President said at the debate that he didn't think it fair for tuition fees to be paid from general taxation, and students who benefit from higher education should make a contribution towards it.’

Also taking part was Jean Samuel, Labour Candidate for the Canterbury and Whitstable seat. Mr Collins took the place of sitting Conservative MP Julian Brazier and Ms Beaumont took the place of Lib Dem candidate Guy Voizey.

The 2001 census lists 13.2% of the Canterbury population as full-time students, compared with Folkestone and Hythe at 2.2%. The number of full-time students in the Folkestone and Hythe population will have risen with the creation of University Centre Folkestone, but coupled with many graduates leaving the area the student vote is certainly not as strong as in Canterbury.