Clarke: 路Students can pay for themselves EDUCATION Secretary Charles Clarke has spoken out to Concrete over the Union's new policy on top-up fees. Clarke, who is MP for Norwich South has criticised the proposal - claiming that tax payers should not have to pay more for young people to go to university.
Above: Charles Clarke. Picture courtesy of the Evening News
Union Council passed a motion last week, stating that higher education should be funded by general taxation, meaning people who have not attended university have to pay more tax. And he also hinted that even if the public were forced to have more money deducted from theiwage packets, it would not go
REBECCA LAWRENCE News Editor
into higher education - but instead, primary schools. "You have to remember that the overwhelming bulk of university funding comes from general taxation. That will continue to happen . "The problem is that you're competing with other areas of education and universities don't always win because MPs, such as myself, say primary schools should get more funding than higher-education . Young people can pay for themselves," he said . Now Mr Clarke - also known as 'the bruiser', warns that the Government can 't fund every
person who goes to University, so much of the cost will fall on students. "The real issue is social justice . Such a relatively small proportion of working class children go to University that there is a wasting of talent. That is something I have to address, but I haven't made my mind up over what I am going to do yet." But Clarke doesn't fear for his job if top-fees are introduced as very few of his voters are middle class - .the group expected to be hit hardest by the new move . ''The middle class are very important but, they are not my main voters. Most of mine come from working class cou ncil estates," said Mr Clarke. Continued on page 5
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