I WONDER what Sue Such, who complained about the Lib Dems changing their minds about the bedroom tax (Letters, July 21), thinks of Labour’s U-turn on the Lib Dem Free Schools Meals policy?

Having listened, along with your reporter, to a leading Labour councillor criticise the policy at a recent meeting of Oxfordshire’s Education Scrutiny Committee, I was surprised to discover that the Labour National Executive apparently endorsed the Lib Dem policy at its meeting on Saturday. I hope local councillors will now follow their party’s lead.

As to the often parroted theme about tuition fees, perhaps Ms Such can tell me how universities will fare if Labour cuts a third from their teaching income, as would happen if fees were reduced to £6,000? Not only would Labour’s action make many lecturers redundant, but there would, no doubt, be fewer places for children from disadvantaged backgrounds than under the present fee regime.

Ms Such might also note that students now don’t pay back their fees until they are earning a wage, unlike under the former Labour fee regime, when repayments were far more draconian. Lib Dems have spent money on the education of disadvantaged children, something Labour didn’t really do when in office as it was more interested in destroying locally well-run school systems in favour of supporting private enterprise rather than improving the education of all children.

Cllr JOHN HOWSON
Councillor for St Margaret’s Division
and Lib Dem spokesperson on
Education Oxfordshire County Council

Today’s letters

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