Caroline spoke out today on the news that both the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex will charge students the maximum rate of £9,000 tuition fees (1).

The Brighton Pavilion MP said: "This is bad news for Brighton's future student population, many of whom will be put off a university education by these sky-high fees.

"Raising tuition fees to this level could have a serious effect on equality and social mobility in our society - which is why hundreds of thousands of students took to the streets in protest.

"The fact that so many universities have now confirmed they will charge the full whack makes a complete mockery of the Government's claims that institutions asking the highest fees would be the exception rather than the rule (2).

"Sadly, this is the inevitable consequence of the Coalition's assault on education.

"With nearly £1bn of funding cuts for universities and colleges being announced by the Higher Education Funding Council for England last month, it's now painfully clear that this Government is determined to shift the cost of higher education onto students - regardless of the consequences."

ENDS

Notes

1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-13127847

2) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13116975