JUST ONE IN TEN STUDENTS CONVINCED BY CLEGG FEES ‘APOLOGY’

Just one in ten students (11.1%) are more likely to vote for the Liberal Democrats following Nick Clegg’s broadcast ‘apology’ for signing a pre-election pledge not to increase tuition fees, according to a new survey by the National Union of Students (NUS).

The survey showed that almost half (46.9%) of respondents were less likely to vote for the Liberal Democrats as a result of the Deputy Prime Minister’s ‘apology’.

When asked which political party they intended to vote for in the next election, just one in thirteen (7.7%) said they intended to vote for the Liberal Democrats.

NUS said the Liberal Democrat leader should apologise for breaking its pledge, rather than making it, backing comments yesterday from Liberal Democrat Party President Tim Farron that it was “a fine pledge” for Liberal Democrat MPs to have made and that the party “should have fought harder” to keep it.

Liam Burns, NUS President said:

“Nick Clegg actually won students’ votes by signing the pledge. It is clear he has lost them by breaking it.”

“This attempted apology has created more confusion than clarity. Mr Clegg must now make amends by changing his policies.”

“He and those of his colleagues who voted for a rise in tuition fees should not be apologising for making a pledge which reinforced the Liberal Democrats long-standing and fully costed proposal to abolish tuition fees.”

“Unlike Mr Clegg and the other MPs who went back on their individually signed promises to voters, the 21 Liberal Democrat MPs who did honour their pledge and voted against an increase in tuition fees should rightly be praised for keeping their word rather than being implicitly criticised by their leader.”

ENDS

NUS Press Office 0786 669 5010 / pressoffice@nus.org.uk

NUS online survey to 25,000 validated students

Friday 21 September 12:00 – Monday 24 September 08:00

3028 responses

Which, if any, political party do you intend to vote for in the next general election

(Select One Only)

Conservative 495 (16.8%)

The Green Party 236 (8.0%)

Labour Party 1115 (37.9%)

Liberal Democrats 227 (7.7%)

I will be aged under 18 at the time of the last general election 49 (1.7%)

I will not vote in the next general election 597 (20.3%)

Other 226 (7.7%)

Before the 2010 general election, Nick Clegg, leader of the liberal democrat party, signed a petition opposing an increase in tuition fees. In November 2010, the coalition increased tuition fees to a maximum of £9000 per year.

This Wednesday (18th September 2012) he addressed his party and apologised for signing this petition, and this will be shown in a party political broadcast next week.

Thinking of this in isolation, to what extent, if at all, does this affect your likelihood to vote liberal democrat at the next general election

It has strongly increased my likelihood to vote liberal democrat at the next general election 87 (3.0%)

It has slightly increased my likelihood to vote liberal democrat at the next general election 238 (8.1%)

It has not affected my likelihood to vote liberal democrat at the next general election 888 (30.2%)

It has slightly decreased my likelihood to vote liberal democrat at the next general election 416 (14.2%)

It has strongly decreased my likelihood at the next general election 960 (32.7%)

Don't know 349 (11.9%)