Nick Clegg understands his party’s misgivings, and he has devoted an interview
with the Telegraph to calming his
troops with some of the old religion. He will continue to fight for an alternative nuclear deterrent to Trident and he hints that tuition fees will be abolished. He says of the proposed graduate
tax or student contribution:
“It’s one we think is acceptable. The perception of [tuition fees] is that it imposes a wall of debt as you walk through the entry gates of university. This has a chilling effect on applications. It sends a signal which seems to be discouraging.”
Clegg’s comments contradict David Willetts, the universities minister, who has decided that there will be no further comment until Lord Browne delivers his much threatened report. Clegg has previous form of going ‘off-message’ but this seems more deliberate than his Iraqi gaffe, designed to placate his errant MPs, some of whom are apparently poised to join Labour.
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