Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Nick Clegg apologises for tuition fees pledge

In a video message released this evening, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg apologised for his party’s pre-election pledge to vote against any rise in tuition fees.

Clegg said:

‘We made a promise before the election that we would vote against any rise in fees under any circumstances. But that was a mistake.
It was a pledge made with the best of intentions – but we shouldn’t have made a promise we weren’t absolutely sure we could deliver.

‘I shouldn’t have committed to a policy that was so expensive when there was no money around. Not least when the most likely way we’d end up in Government was in coalition with Labour or the Conservatives, who were both committed to put fees up.

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