Candidates Clash in Student Fees Debate – What Really Happened Part II

Following on from the earlier post, a second YouTube video has been brought to the attention of FUTS, courtesy of Lib Dem councillor Tim Prater.

Conservative Candidate Damian Collins and Lib Dem candidate Lynne Beaumont took part in a debate on the Future of Student Fees, held at Canterbury Christchurch University.

Ms Beaumont told FUTS that Mr Collins had been heckled after advocating higher fees for top level universities. At the time Mr Collins admitted that some issues were ‘contentious’, but stated he only said colleges ‘should have to back up why they were charging more ... When I said this there wasn't a reaction.’

The video, with less than 30 views at the time of writing, shows one student accusing Mr Collins of ‘blatantly’ lying as Conservative policies would price people out of University.

Mr Collins clarifies that ‘I’m not saying [variable fees] is what I want. The principle is that institutions should give you much better information.’

The student then attacks rumoured Conservative plans for ‘ten grand tuition fees’ and graduate tax, to loud applause.

Mr Collins answers that everyone pays top rate tax regardless of university education and appears to say that this is not enough to pay for university, though speech is obscured by the noise in the room.

In an email, Cllr Prater states ‘I think that Damian doth protest too much on variable tuition fees - he laid out clearly the grounds on which universities would charge different fees.

‘If you don't agree with variable fees and wouldn't allow them, then you say so. He didn't.’

Given that Mr Collins was speaking to an audience of students, some heckling is unsurprising and his willingness to debate in this atmosphere is commendable.

However, it appears his initial statement of ‘when I said this there wasn’t a reaction’ was avoiding admitting the more uncomfortable aspects of the meeting.

Neither the party website nor Mr Collins appears to give a clear indication of controls on variable fees (should they be introduced), presumably leaving the door open for top universities to charge more for their courses.

Conservative policy states ‘We recognise that higher fees have brought benefits to universities, but we need to ensure that they are providing a better student experience in return’