Member News
By Tony Grew - 3rd December 2010
A Lib Dem MP has called on the government to call off the vote on tuition fees.
Greg Mulholland has tabled an EDM claiming the government "has failed to convince many people that its proposals will be fair and sustainable".
The vote next Thursday could see Lib Dem MPs and ministers abstaining or even voting against the rise in tuition fees.
The party's MPs are due to meet and decide on a common position.
No other members have signed Mulholland's EDM so far.
It calls on the government to "withdraw its proposed motion immediately and instead to undertake more public consultation on the issue of funding of higher education, including consultation with those future graduates and their families who did not contribute to the consultation over the Browne review".
Mulholland is one of 13 Lib Dem MPs who have indicated they might vote against the tuition fees rise.
Others include party president Tim Farron and former leaders Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell.
Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander told BBC One's Question Time last night:
"This is not an ideal situation at all but in a coalition there are going to be some issues that are going to be difficult and we flagged that up in the coalition agreement.
"I hope, and I would certainly very much prefer, to vote for it. I have worked very hard on this policy.
"I am seeking to persuade my colleagues to support it but, at the end of the day, we have not reached a view as a party yet.
"We are going through a process as a democratic party and not imposing something as a leadership on our colleagues."
Respected left-leaning website Left Foot Forward has said it is "sheer futility" for Lib Dems to abstain.
"Given that there are five Sinn Fein MPs who do not sit in Parliament, a majority of 323 is required to pass legislation if every MP votes.
"With 307 MPs, the Tories fall short and require the support of at least 16 Lib Dem MPs.
"But if every one of the 57 Lib Dem abstains, the required majority falls to 294 and the Conservatives can pass the legislation on their own."
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