row brewing over leader’s comments
Kennedy at odds with Clegg over tuition fees
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Former Liberal Democrat chief Charles Kennedy was on a collision course last night with leader Nick Clegg over fears the policy on student tuition fees may have to be ditched.
The Highland MP and Rector of Glasgow University led the backlash against Mr Clegg after he warned in a question and answer session in the Bournemouth conference hall that scrapping up-front university fees in England – as they have been in Scotland – would cost £12.5billion and questioned whether this was affordable during an economic crisis.
Mr Kennedy, who was leader when the policy was decided, made it clear he remains wedded to it, insisting there are times “when your heart has to rule your head”.
He warned all party leaders must be “careful” about ditching policies that are “defining features of a Lib Dem society”.
Mr Kennedy, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, was ousted three years ago and briefly replaced by former deputy Menzies Campbell before he too was replaced by Mr Clegg.
It was clear he is deeply concerned the new leadership appeared to be moving to ditch a policy for which he was responsible.
The issue is not directly applicable to Scottish students, who do not pay fees.
Mr Clegg was warned in the conference hall by one delegate he had to “appreciate that the abolition of tuition fees is a lot more than just money”. Mr Clegg responded that it was, but it was also about candour.
He said he was “most uncomfortable”, but the severity of the economic crisis made him “worried about whether we can retain all of our cherished pledges and policies”.
North and north-east delegates were divided over the issue.
Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce said: “I have supported this policy consistently and I believe it is important to stick to things that you have campaigned on for a long time.
“There are difficult decisions to be taken, but Mr Clegg will have to recognise there is very strong commitment in the party.”
But Danny Alexander, Mr Clegg’s chief of staff and MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, told a conference briefing the state of the nation’s finances meant some cherished policies being downgraded to “aspirations”. He said later: “Charles is right about the benefit of the policy. The question we face is when we can afford to do it.”
Scottish affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, also supported Mr Clegg. He said: “There is nothing worse for politics than politicians promising things they cannot afford.
“The voters are not stupid. They know how Britain’s economy has changed.”
Aberdeen South candidate John Sleigh said: “When things are not possible, we have to say so. I support Mr Clegg on this.”
Mr Kennedy and Mr Clegg also clashed over whether the Tory and Lib Dem parties should prepare to work together after the general election. Mr Clegg pointedly failed to rule it out.
Mr Kennedy said that the Tories' attitude on Europe would be “the straw that breaks the camel's back", adding: “Pigs would fly!"
