CONSERVATIVE Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney voted against the government’s bid to treble student tuition fees.
The shock move came after a day of lobbying by a delegation of Huddersfield University students who praised him for “actually listening to us”.
The former lecturer contributed to a vote which saw a narrower victory than the government envisioned, the proposal being carried with a majority of just 21 – 323 votes to 302.
It paves the way for a rise in tuition fees in England of up to £9,000 a year.
“It was with a heavy heart that I voted against the Government despite a number of worthwhile concessions, including a hardship fund for poorer students, being made this week.
"But when I was elected I promised to be a strong local voice for my Colne Valley constituency and to represent the views of my 81,000 constituents in Westminster. That’s what I have done.
“This week I have had face-to-face meetings with Kirklees College students, the president of The University of Huddersfield’s Students Union, the Prime Minister and the Universities Secretary. I’ve had phone calls with parents, other students and senior staff at Huddersfield University.
"I have received hundreds of emails. I’ve also listened to the other side of the argument with hard working taxpayers questioning why they should subsidise university education so heavily.
“As a former university lecturer, I believe that the length and type of course on offer at our universities needs to be looked at. However, this vote wasn’t about that. All in all it was the most difficult decision I’ve made so far as the MP for Colne Valley.
“I took no pleasure in going through the same lobby as the Labour Party, who originally introduced tuition fees, and have offered no viable alternative.
"They have flip-flopped all over the place with an unworkable graduate tax. Shame on the Labour Party who have played petty partisan politics with an issue that affects the futures of hundreds of thousands of young people.”
