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Lib Dem deputy Simon Hughes gets higher education role Lib Dem deputy Simon Hughes appointed to education role
(about 3 hours later)
The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes, is to be appointed as a "special advocate" for access to education. A senior Lib Dem who abstained from the vote on tuition fees has been appointed by the government to help encourage poorer teenagers to go to university.
The government wants him to explain its policies on higher and further education, especially to young people from poorer backgrounds. Simon Hughes was among Lib Dems to raise concerns about a hike in the cap on university tuition fees in England.
Mr Hughes was among Lib Dem MPs who did not vote for the government's policy of raising tuition fees. David Cameron and Nick Clegg said it would be a tragedy if youths were put off applying due to "misinformation".
Labour called the appointment "cynical window-dressing". Labour said the appointment was "window dressing" and showed they were worried students would be put off by the rise.
The government voted to almost treble the cap on university tuition fees this month. The Lib Dem deputy leader has been appointed to the unpaid, six-month role as the government's "advocate for access to education", in which he will go into schools to address the concerns of poorer teenagers and work with them on campaigns to persuade as many as possible to consider higher education.
Tuition fees for English universities will increase from a maximum of £3,290 per year to a cap of £9,000. He will also contribute to work on finding a suitable replacement for the educational maintenance allowance - which gives low-income 16-19 year olds up to £30 a week to help them continue in full time education. Its abolition has also proved to be controversial.
Mr Hughes abstained from voting on the controversial issue - which prompted large protests from students across the country. 'Misinformation'
Although deputy leader of the Lib Dems, Mr Hughes is not a minister in the coalition government and has raised concerns about other policies - including housing benefit cuts and ending life-long tenancies for new council house tenants. Although deputy leader of the Lib Dems, Mr Hughes is not a minister in the coalition government and has previously raised concerns about various other policies.
The Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP is to take on the unpaid, six-month term, as the government's advocate for access to education, going into schools to canvass the concerns of poorer teenagers and work with them on campaigns to persuade as many as possible to consider higher education. Asked whether he would no longer be able to speak out on issues, he told the BBC Radio 4's World at One: "I'm independent of government. I'm not a member of the government, I've been asked to report to the government with ideas and recommendations."
He will also contribute to work on finding a suitable replacement for the educational maintenance allowance - the axing of which he has also criticised. Mr Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, was among Lib Dem MPs who did not vote for the government's policy of raising tuition fees.
Announcing the appointment, the prime minister and his Deputy PM - and Lib Dem leader - Nick Clegg renewed claims the true impact of the tuition fees policy had been "obscured" by the row over the Lib Dems breaking a pre-election pledge to oppose rises. He considered voting against it, telling the BBC at the time he was concerned that the upper limit on the cap of £9,000 could put some youngsters off going.
But he told the World at One: "I'm very clear that the decision in Parliament has been made and the job of all of us across parties is to make sure we maximise the opportunities for young people of all backgrounds... to go to further education colleges and university."
He said: "I'm not there to sell it, I'm there to make sure people understand the facts... The problem with the system is the perception rather than the reality."
'Tragedy'
Earlier this month MPs voted to almost treble the cap on university tuition fees in England from a maximum of £3,290 per year to a cap of £9,000 - a policy which prompted large protests from students across the country.
Lib Dem MPs pledged to vote against any increase in tuition fees before the general election - and have been the focus of much of the protesters' anger.
Announcing the appointment, the prime minister and Mr Clegg renewed claims the true impact of the tuition fees policy had been "obscured" by the row over the Lib Dems' pledge to oppose rises.
They said it would be a "tragedy" if young people from disadvantaged backgrounds were wrongly put off applying for a degree because of that "misinformation".They said it would be a "tragedy" if young people from disadvantaged backgrounds were wrongly put off applying for a degree because of that "misinformation".
Accepting the role, Mr Hughes said: "It is a privilege to be asked to take on this role, and I will do so with urgency, enthusiasm and determination.
"Parliament has settled the maximum university fee level in England from 2012 and we now have a critically-important task to ensure that every potential student has access to all the facts about further education.
"I will work to ensure that from 2011 we have the best system of educational advice, information and support in place, designed to ensure disadvantaged young people gain access to higher education."
Mr Clegg argued Mr Hughes was "ideally suited" to the role as a champion of young people from deprived backgrounds.Mr Clegg argued Mr Hughes was "ideally suited" to the role as a champion of young people from deprived backgrounds.
He said: "I know Simon will be tireless in seeking the best ways to communicate the opportunities open to young people, just as he will be a strong advocate for them to government."He said: "I know Simon will be tireless in seeking the best ways to communicate the opportunities open to young people, just as he will be a strong advocate for them to government."
But Shadow Business Secretary John Denham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Hughes should apologise for not voting against tuition fee rises. But shadow business secretary John Denham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Hughes should apologise for not voting against tuition fee rises.
He said the government was "clearly worried" that students would be put off by higher tuition fees.He said the government was "clearly worried" that students would be put off by higher tuition fees.
"Simon Hughes is as responsible as anyone in this Parliament for that. This is a terribly cynical piece of window-dressing.""Simon Hughes is as responsible as anyone in this Parliament for that. This is a terribly cynical piece of window-dressing."
Mr Denham added: "This is all about trying to prop up a Tory government."