Students press Clegg for commitment on tuition fees

In an open letter to the new Deputy Prime Minister, the National Union of Students (NUS) urged him to clarify the Government's stance on the future of top-up fees.

It came as Downing Street announced that Vince Cable would become the new Business Secretary, which is still expected to include responsibility for universities.

During the run-up to the General Election, more than 500 Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidates signed the NUS's Vote for Students pledge, promising to vote against a rise in tuition fees.

The letter says: "The faith students and their families have placed in the Liberal Democrats must now be repaid.

"You campaigned with a clear and welcome manifesto pledge to support students and reduce their burden of debt. Your MPs signed a pledge, a pact between candidates and their constituents, to vote against a rise in tuition fees and to press the government for a fairer alternative. For that, the National Union of Students and voters are grateful.

"The new Foreign Secretary William Hague suggested this morning that Liberal Democrat MPs could abstain on a vote on the future of student fees. Given the individual compact they made with their electorate through the Vote for Students pledge, it is incumbent on them to oppose any attempt to raise the cap on fees and to press the government for a fairer alternative.

"We hope that you will keep your promise and help to ensure that the next parliament votes for students."

During the election campaign Mr Clegg targeted the student vote by warning that tuition fees could rise to 7,000 a year under the Tories or Labour.

He pledged to oppose any attempt to remove the cap on tuition fees, warning of a "disaster" if student debt levels were allowed to rise further.

The Lib Dems calculated that a student in London could be left more than 44,000 in debt from fees and maintenance loans after a three-year course ending in 2015.

Mr Clegg said at that time: "Labour and the Conservatives have been trying to keep tuition fees out of this election campaign.

"It's because they don't want to come clean with you about what they're planning.

"Despite the huge financial strain fees already place on Britain's young people, it is clear both Labour and the Conservatives want to lift the cap on fees."

The Lib Dems have said they plan to phase out tuition fees, which currently stand at 3,225 per year, over a six-year period.

A independent review of student funding led by former BP boss Lord Browne, which could pave the way for a rise, is under way.

The review is not due to report back until the autumn and both the Tories and Labour have refused to pre-empt the outcome, despite facing pressure to state their positions.