The
Liberal Democrats ran into fresh trouble today when the party's
higher education spokeswoman in the Lords, Lady Sharp, said she was not sure she could vote tomorrow for the coalition government's trebling of
tuition fees.
Sharp told the Guardian: "I face a dilemma. I have a lot of reservations, and I am in the same position as many Liberal Democrat MPs. I have not decided how to vote."
Labour announced that it would stage a vote tomorrow to reject the Commons decision to treble tuition fees, ending doubts that Labour peers might feel constitutionally prevented from opposing secondary legislation.
Sharp said she was not sure the proposals would save the government money, adding: "That makes me question whether the whole exercise is worthwhile." She said: "The proposals will hit middle-income groups and burden young families with a household debt of £60,000 to £80,000 at an interest rate of 9%, just at a time when they are trying to raise a family and start a home. That is a serious disincentive."
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