Putting us in the picture over tuition stance
Following my blog about the Tory MP Ben Wallace denying that he signed the NUS pledge on tuition fees, I have been sent these photographs of Mr Wallace holding a copy of the pledge, with what looks like his signature.
Mr Wallace told me tonight:
"Look at the detail. It is amended and says: "under current system". The Browne report changes all that. Lancaster Uni confirm I did not sign the NUS pledge, but an amended system."
"I didn't like the old system because 15,000 was too low a threshold; poor student support was rubbish; and universities didn't provide enough information on what students get for their cash. Browne answers all that. I want more done to encourage science, but it will do for now."
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 7th Dec 2010, richard bunning wrote:How can you tell if a LibDem MP is lying?
Simple - his lips move.
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Comment number 2.
At 7th Dec 2010, elaine wrote:1. I didn't sign it!
2. It was amended!
Pathetic, must be something in the water in House of Parliament that causes a loss of touch with reality.
Michael, lack of resolution on published photo - has it been amended?
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Comment number 3.
At 8th Dec 2010, barriesingleton wrote:PLEASE TELL NICK TO DROP THE 'HONOURABLE'
He can do the Weasel Waltz all he likes, but HONOURABLE it is not, and will never be.
Nick Clegg was elevated to MP status by virtue of WEARING A LIBDEM ROSETTE. Likewise his 'Honourable' prefix was unearned. Rather than coercing his ninny lieutenants into voting disgracefully, let them bring down this 'government' and stand as independents IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. Few would be returned.
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Comment number 4.
At 8th Dec 2010, redrobb wrote:Hello, what part of real trust do you associate with MP's! Some may perhaps set out with principles of a kind, but come on....once the've been re-elected and secured that nice index linked pension including with the odd piece of tin around their neck in that other house...principles become slightly tarnised!
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Comment number 5.
At 8th Dec 2010, stanilic wrote:We live in a representative democracy so our representatives reflect the people who voted for them.
Mealy-mouthed representatives means a mealy-mouthed electorate.
The most amazing thing about the last election was the two elephants standing in the room called the deficit and the debt. The politicians talked about neither for fear of frightening the voters and the voters preferred the vacuous waffle of the politicians.
So the voters got the representatives they deserved and now that the truth is known want to deny their own liability for the consequential shambles.
I am sorry for the children who are having their hopes and prospects dashed but this is the price for an entire society believing in faeries, faerie gold and following the King of the Leprachauns. I expect they are all now preparing to go off and see the wizard along the Yellow Brick Road.
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Comment number 6.
At 12th Dec 2010, Darran wrote:Well he signed a copy of the NUS pledge that was designed by the LUSU, so technically he didn't sign the NUS pledge, but since the pledge on their sheet was exactly the same as the NUS pledge, it's very pedantic. I guess it depends how you define the 'NUS pledge', did altering it invalidate it?
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