Failure to attend University event indicative of sectarian parties' failure on tuition fees - Parsley

2.35.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 18th Oct 2006

Young Alliance Chair, Ian James Parsley

The Chair of the Alliance Party's youth wing has said the absence of representatives of the four largest parties from a debate at Queen's University on tuition fees is indicative of their failure to provide a solution.

The North Down Councillor stated: "I do not know the detail of how the invitations are handled, but this latest non-event merely indicates the void that exists when it comes to parties based on sectarian divisions providing answers on the issues that affect us all.

"Small wonder so many people are turning away from party politics when all they see is posturing and complaining, but precious little responsible governance.

"We have consistently put forward two solutions to the tuition fees debacle that have found favour with students: firstly, the removal of segregated public services would save £1 bn a year that could go towards abolishing the tuition tax; secondly, a graduate levy based on precise income would be a much fairer way of recouping the money to pay for

world-class university provision, as it would be based on their actual ability to pay.

"I have no doubt my colleagues in the rapidly growing Alliance Society at the University will look forward to presenting these proposals at forthcoming events, including elections. There is a responsible alternative out there, and we will not shirk from providing it."

ENDS