Hughes pushes Lib Dems into the mix on tuition fees

The first Sunday of the World Cup is predictably quiet on the political front. But Simon Hughes’ comments this morning about tuition fees are worth noting. Hughes said

“So to me the big task is to make sure the moment that Lord Browne publishes his report in the Autumn the Liberal Democrat case is entered into the mix. That we talk to Vince Cable, who’s the minster and my very good friend and colleague, and David Willetts, and we make sure the government understands that there may well be ways of finding the money universities need, and they need it, without penalising students from disadvantaged background. I think that circle can be squared, it will require imagination and ingenuity.”

The Coalition agreement talks about how if Lord Browne’s review recommends something the Lib Dems can’t accept then arrangements will be made to allow them to abstain. But Hughes seems to be suggesting a more pro-active Lib Dem approach.