Source: Alamy

Points of review: Lady Brinton noted Lib Dem support for ¡®graduate contribution¡¯

Liberal Democrat members could be set for another collision with the party¡¯s leadership over higher education after signalling support for a graduate tax as official policy at the next general election.

Updating the party¡¯s approach to university funding after the trauma of its broken promise to oppose higher fees is among the aims of the Lib Dems¡¯ post-16 education policy review, which held a consultation session on 8 March at the party¡¯s spring conference in Brighton.

The section of the consultation document relating to higher education funding puts forward three options: the status quo of ?9,000 maximum fees; a ¡°purer graduate contribution¡±; and a reduction in student numbers to lower costs to the state.

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Baroness Brinton of Kenardington, chair of the review, said: ¡°It was noticeable that members of the party who spoke at the conference felt they wanted to see a graduate contribution.¡± But she stressed that it was too early to say what funding proposal would emerge from the review, noting that the consultation period does not close until 8 April.

If Lib Dem members do manage to lead the party to adopt a graduate tax policy, it could set up a confrontation with the leadership.

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The Independent reported earlier this year that senior Lib Dem figures want the party to promise to lower fees to ?6,000 a year.

This could result in a repeat of the Lib Dem split ahead of the 2010 general election, when members¡¯ wishes to phase out fees - still the party¡¯s official policy - became a key election pledge despite the reservations of some senior figures.

This summer, the Lib Dem Federal Policy Committee will publish a motion to be debated and voted on by delegates at the party¡¯s autumn conference, with the result determining party policy.

The Lib Dem general election manifesto will be written by the committee, ¡°based on the agreed policies of the party but updating them where necessary¡±, according to the party¡¯s website.

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The consultation document says of the graduate tax option: ¡°The present system is a hybrid, part loan repayment, part graduate contribution. Should we move to a purer graduate contribution to cover the cost of fees, and continue with maintenance loans?¡±

Lady Brinton, a former bursar at two University of Cambridge colleges, said the option to reduce costs and student numbers was included in the consultation to spell out the implications of ¡°going back to a fully funded undergraduate student finance system¡±.

But she said of that option: ¡°I don¡¯t see any support for that at all.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com