Labour ups pressure over tuition fees

25th November 2010

The decision to call an early vote on the rise in tuition fees is an indication the government is "desperate to get this out of the way", Labour has said.

Commons leader Sir George Young announced the issue will be discussed in the chamber next Tuesday when there will be Opposition-led debates on funding for school sports and then on tuition fees.

During questions on future parliamentary business, shadow Commons leaderHilary Benn called for an assurance that a vote will take place in the Commons chamber so voters can see all Liberal Democrat MPs "who go through the aye lobby and break the pledge that they made".

Hitting out at deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, Benn asked whether a further statement could be expected from the Lib Dem leader "about breaking his word".

He asked: "If so can we have a debate on crocodile tears and could the right honourable gentleman for Sheffield Hallam lead it?"

In response, Sir George asked whether a debate on tuition fees will bring an Opposition "commitment to a graduate tax".

He added: "And we wonder whether the shadow chancellor will speak and wind up that debate to make it absolutely clear that his views are the same as the leader of the Opposition?"

David Winnick (Lab, Walsall) said that yesterday's student protest, which resulted in disorder and injuries to police, had been "marvelous and gives a lead to others to follow".

In response, Sir George asked whether "on reflection, you would like to describe the demonstration yesterday as 'marvellous'".

He added: "Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage was done in Westminster and the demonstration was ruined by a minority of irresponsible people and I pay tribute to the way police responded yesterday."

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert (Lib Dem) raised concerns over the tactics used by the police which saw thousands of protestors 'kettled' by officers.

He called for a statement from the homes secretary about the "use of kettling particularly with regard to schoolchildren".

The Commons leader said he felt police handled the demonstration "well".

"It was an enormous improvement on what happened last time and I'm not going to criticise from the despatch box the tactics that they took in order to protect public property, in order to stop more extensive damage being done," he said.

Tory backbencher Peter Bone decried the "young violent thugs" who had disrupted the protest.

"Those thugs were wearing face coverings so they could not be identified easily by the police," he told MPs.

He referred to fellow Tory MP Philip Hollobone's private member's bill which would "outlaw such practice".

Bone asked whether the government would back the Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill , which would also ban women from wearing a burka in public.

Sir George said that when the Bill reaches the Commons, there will be a minister on the front bench during the debate who will "make clear the government's response".

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