If we assume that university students have a modicum of intelligence, I think we must also assume that they realise the Lib Dems didn’t really sell them out. The ‘sell-out’ is something repeated ad infinitum by right-wing mouthpieces, and it rang hollow from the start. The Lib Dems made a manifesto pledge seven years ago — seven years ago — and were by far the weaker “half” in an alliance. Clearly they had to let some parts of their manifesto go. Students with a modicum of intelligence will know this.
On the other hand, we’ve seen at least two Tory promises broken recently in nearly as many weeks — never mind seven years ago. We’ve seen the Tories raise tuition fees even further, and they’ve failed to put a cap on interest payments, which are now spiralling upwards in line with rising inflation. They’ve also sold a bulk of the loans to private companies.
We’ve also seen them pushing for grammar schools, making all new schools for-profit academies (except we’re not allowed to call it profit), and introducing for-profit universities, where those with the money can get a degree in two years, not three or four.
No, I think students are intelligent enough to know who the real enemy is.
