Borrowing Students Lend Support (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Borrowing Students Lend Support

January 26, 2005 10:33 PM

David Rendel MP with students in Swindon

David Rendel MP meeting students at New College

Liberal Democrat Higher Education spokesperson, David Rendel MP, met students at Swindon's New College. He commented:

"Swindon students going to university this September are facing five-figure debts. Tuition fees are not only acting as a disincentive to many young people thinking about going to university. They are also damaging the university experience for many people."

Mike Evemy the Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North Swindon said that the Party was encouraged by a new MORI survey, which put support for the Lib Dems among students at 34% compared to 28% for Labour and 19% for the Tories. But he is concerned that the survey also found that average student debt climbed £525 this year to stand at £5,285. Students expect that they will owe £9,744 at graduation.

Parliamentary candidate, Mike Evemy said:

"Higher Education in England is heading towards chaos. Students are forced to work more hours to manage this sort of debt - and it can only get worse with the introduction of top-up fees. Young people from Swindon may have to neglect their studies to earn money to pay for the rising cost of a degree."

One of the students who met Mr Rendel, who is hoping to start university in September said that she was worried that she might face working when she would prefer to be studying, to avoid building up a hideous level of debt by the time she graduated.

"I am pleased that some politicians do listen to our concerns," she added.