Cameron's comments on Today Programme expose Tory confusion over university fees

UCU today demanded that the Conservative Party comes clean on its plans for university funding after David Cameron told the Today Programme that university fees were here to stay.
 
The Tory leader's comments appear to put him at odds with his universities secretary, David Willetts, who said recently that universities had not yet made the case for top-up fees, or properly accounted for the £3,000-a-year they already charge*.
 
The union said that it would welcome clarification from the Tories of exactly where the party stands on university fees and has previously accused both the opposition and the government of using a forthcoming review of student funding to avoid telling voters their plans.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Recent polling on university funding reveals a country that is vehemently opposed to fees and any increase in fees. Therefore it is only right and fair that all the parties clearly set out their policies on fees ahead of the election to allow voters to make an informed choice at the ballot box.
 
'David Cameron should perhaps be applauded for being honest about where the Tories stand on the issue. However, I doubt the public will be impressed that the only spending commitment the Tories seem prepared to give is to make university more expensive for thousands of hard-working families. We remain unconvinced that increasing the financial burden on students or their parents is the way to ensure our most-talented students, not just the wealthiest, can go to university.'

* More on David Willetts' comments can be found at TimesOnline