Fight against increase in student top-up fees. Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross joins the battle. Where do you stand?

The Government has announced the start of a review of university funding which will look at the impact of 2004’s introduction of £3,000 ‘top-up fees’.

Last week hundreds of students from across the country descended on parliament to argue for a fair alternative to fees which will not price out poorer students. Supporting their pledge ‘to vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce a fairer alternative’ is Teign MP Richard Younger-Ross.

Richard told the PRSD: “I believe that a university education should be free and everyone who has the ability should be able to go to university and not be put off by cost.

“It is wrong that new graduates coming out of university are being burdened with thousands of pounds worth of debt, particularly at a time when many are struggling to find a job. I would like to see tuition fees scrapped for full and part time students taking their first degrees.”

NUS president Wes Streeting said: “I am delighted that Mr Younger-Ross is standing up for students and young people. By supporting our pledge he has demonstrated his determination to give every young person a fair chance to go to university.

“The NUS believes that a university education should be free at the point of use, with graduates giving back to the system according to how much they earn. This would give universities double the amount of funding they currently receive, while allowing the children of poorer families to go to university without the fear of debt.  It would also prevent the emergence of a marker in higher education, where only the rich could afford to attend our most prestigious.”

• Student fees, where do you stand? Comments below, please.