STUDENT DEBTS OF £1.6 BILLION A YEAR IN SOUTH EAST - BUT TOP-UP FEES CAN STILL BE STOPPED, SAYS DOUGHTY

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 2nd Feb 2004

Guildford MP, Sue Doughty, has expressed her disappointment at the narrow victory for the Government's top-up fees plans. But she has encouraged students and their supporters to continue their opposition and promised a Liberal Democrat Government would scrap the fees and make higher education free.

Sue said:

"The Labour government has betrayed all the people who elected them by breaking their manifesto promise not to introduce top-up fees.

"Having passed its second reading the Bill is now almost certain to become law. However top-up fees will not be introduced until 2006 - after the next general election. With more Liberal Democrat MPs in the next Parliament, the Government's narrow majority could easily be overturned.

"Students in the South East will face total debts of up to £1.6 billion a year by 2010. There is no need for this to happen. The Liberal Democrats have a fair, viable and costed alternative to this disgraceful policy."