MPs, Come clean on fees! (letter to the Guardian)

I'm still reflecting on Tuesday's flashmob raising awareness about the HE funding review and ensuring that students' opposition to higher fees and the marketisation of higher education was heard loudly! I felt that the flashmob was a great success and I'd like to thank everyone who got involved! A round-up of the media coverage and the further campaign is soon to follow but at this stage I'd like to re-post the letter from Student Unionists across the country calling on both the Labour and Conservative parties to come clean on fees (see the Guardian):

"As student leaders we are appalled by Labour and Conservative attempts to duck difficult questions on student fees and finance at the next general election (Report, 10 November). We are in no doubt that a review panel dominated by business and university leaders is designed to stitch up students with yet another inflation-busting hike in tuition fees. Students will not stand for this. Opinion polls conducted for the National Union of Students and lecturers' union UCU consistently show that the overwhelming majority of the public are opposed to higher fees. Only 12% believe this review should even consider raising our fees; when students entering university this autumn are set to graduate with debts in excess of £23,500, it's not hard to see why.

Labour and Conservative leaders seem to believe they can maintain their cosy consensus of silence until the election and beyond. Today we are descending on parliament to demand that MPs come clean on their stance. Any parliamentary candidate that does not sign the NUS pledge to vote against an increase in fees and support our calls for a fairer funding system will be named and shamed. In 2005, the student vote made a significant difference in towns and cities across the UK. Our message is clear: candidates must vote with us, or students won't vote for them."

It is vital that students understand the power they posses as a collective. Make sure you are registered to vote well ahead of the general election and inform your local candidates that their position on student fees will be the issue which could mean the difference between winning or losing come the election!