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.
He said: “I think this was far too big a hike in fees. It’s my opinion that the trebling of fees would saddle students with huge levels of debt and deter many from poorer backgrounds from applying to university.’’
“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 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 Huddersfield University Student’s 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.”
He condemned the violence outside, saying it contrasted to the thoughtful young people he had spoken with.
Labour’s Barry Sheerman, voted against the rise. He said: “I was pleased to see that Jason McCartney was one of the Tories who showed guts and voted the way he did.
“I think the vote showed that there are some seriously unhappy people in the coalition. I was pleased to speak in it and tried to give a balanced view that this was too much against a backdrop of a squeeze on higher education. Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats are responsible for this going through.
“In the past people have said coalition government would see one party stop the other making inappropriate legislation. That hasn’t happened and the normal passage of a Bill, consultation and a sensible consideration of proposals, has been trodden over.”
Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell voted with the government.
The Conservative said: “I don't believe it was any closer than the government expected. I thought it would be around the 20 majority mark.
“It was not particularly divisive; some Liberal Democrat members had signed up to a pledge which affected the way they approached the vote, and politics with principles is not a bad thing.
“If there is a coalition agreement you have to judge it by that marker.’’
Asked about the vote of his Conservative colleague Jason McCartney he said: “I don't know why he voted that way, it's up to him.’’
There were ugly scenes outside the vote as 19 people required ambulance treatment after a series of confrontations and missile-throwing incidents.
A police officer was taken to hospital with a serious neck injury after being injured during the clashes.
The officer was knocked out as thousands of demonstrators laid siege to the Houses of Parliament. A second officer was taken to hospital for treatment to leg injuries after he was pulled from his horse in Parliament Square.
Eight officers in all were injured.
A number of arrests were made after the vote was in.
A car containing Prince Charles and Camilla was attacked by protesters.
The couple were unharmed after their car was struck and daubed in paint as they made their way to the Royal Variety Performance in central London.
THE deputy vice chancellor of the University of Huddersfield says the institution has “a lot of thinking to do” in the wake of the vote to raise tuition fees.
Professor Peter Slee believes that the unprecedented squeeze on higher education means universities are working in a new landscape.
He said: “Obviously the vote was much closer than the government would have liked.
“It shows just how divisive this policy has been. You won’t find many universities that think this level of rise or an 80% cut in government funding is a way to go about delivering higher education.
“Unless we can generate more in funds we may have to make significant adjustments.
“We have a lot of thinking to do about how we work in this new situation.”
Prof Slee also commented on the vote of rebel MP Jason McCartney.
He said: “He seemed to be taking the issue very seriously and he voted with his conscience, taking a lot of time talking with people and considering his options, which is what any good MP should be doing.”
UNIVERSITY of Huddersfield Student Union president Matt Christie was among the groups lobbying in Westminster ahead of the vote.
He held a number of meetings with the region’s MPs and said that he knew Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney was ‘conflicted’.
He said: “We’ve heard that Jason voted against the government and it is fantastic news. He seemed unsure as to how he would vote and wanted to listen to both sides. He’s a local lad and he knew the effect that this would have on the town.
“He looked sick to his stomach. He’s obviously had a really long think about it and he took the whole issue, and our discussions very, very seriously.”
“It was a mad dash to meet him and I’m glad that we did, he’s obviously someone with his head on his shoulders.”
Dr Andrew Mycock is a senior politics lecturer at the University of Huddersfield.
Writing here in a personal capacity, he explains why he believes last night’s decision will harm the country for generations to come.
“THE huge rises in tuition fees and the removal of government support for teaching across a range of subject areas will leave students with massive debts while limiting the choice and creativity of university courses.
“These cuts will further the marketisation of English universities and could compromise their ability to maintain their enviable reputation for world-class teaching and research.
“The cuts will force many students, fearing a lifetime of debt, to choose courses on economic rather than intellectual merits.
“Most students accept they have a responsibility to bear a sizeable share of the costs of their higher education. They also agree that if they earn more due to their graduate status, they will pay more tax.
“But these new arrangements largely absolve the state, society and the private sector – all of whom benefit from higher education – from their funding obligations.
“To say these reforms are progressive is disingenuous. Although students might pay less each month, most will pay back considerably more over a much longer period.
“The unfairness of this policy is underlined by the fact that students in Scotland and Wales will be charged considerably less to go to university than their English counterparts.
“Universities such as Huddersfield play a crucial role in communities, providing education and employment while also enriching economic, political and cultural life.
“No convincing case has been made as to why the fifth largest economy in the world cannot sustain investment in the economic, cultural and social future of this country.
“It is difficult to identify a clear agenda from the government, beyond an ideological drive to further privatise the English university system and limit the state’s commitment to higher education.
“The coalition’s legacy will probably be to deny generations of young people the opportunity to go to university while undermining the ethos of public higher education.
“The electorate will not forget this.”
