Want to be our MP? South Norwich candidates quizzed
Local politicians face a grilling from students in south Norwich, ahead of the general election. The Union of UEA Students has drawn up a draft manifesto to put to each of the candidates. On the day university teaching budgets were cut, students want to learn where each party stands on issues such as tuition fees.
Still in its draft form, the students’ union wants the 14 thousand strong student population at the UEA, at City College and the Arts School, to add their comments to the manifesto. Currently it asks for a clear position on five key areas; higher education funding, public transport, student accommodation, job opportunities for graduates and climate change.
Informal talks are being held with each of the local candidates in the run up to the manifesto launch later this month. The candidates will then give an official response which will be publicised to the student community.
Norwich South MP, Charles Clarke(Lab), indicated how the funding system could be improved during the on-going Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance. At the enquiry last week, Mr Clarke called for maintenance loans to be sufficient to cover genuine student costs, while at the same time removing the current system of means testing. He also argued that universities still have a long way to go to justify an increase in fees, which are currently capped at £3000.
Adrian Ramsay (Green), is the first candidate to sign up to the new Norwich Student Manifesto. He says: “If I replace Charles Clarke as MP I will fight for tuition fees to be replaced by a fairer funding system involving a return to grants for students so that talented young people can go to university regardless of their background. The only fair way for students to pay towards their education is through income tax after they enter employment. Higher education nurtures the talents of students for the benefit of society, so it should be paid for as a public service.”
Today universities learnt that their budgets have been cut for the first time in a decade. Teaching budgets are down 1.6% in real terms on last year. The biggest cut came in capital funding, down almost 15%, according to figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Delegates from the UEA will be attending a National Convention against Fees and Cuts this weekend.
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