Hopes and fears

Reactions to Labour's pledge to reduce tuition fees in England rumble on, writes Alison Goddard.

The winners and losers from any reforms to the higher education funding system were identified by many papers over the weekend. Robert Peston, the BBC’s economics editor, has a blog post, which identifies that the reduction would be paid for (rather technical language coming up) by "quite a chunky disguised tax increase for those on higher earnings". Too many journalists have pitched young against old in reporting that the proposals would raid pensions, when the people who pay pension contributions are clearly working age. There are lots of reactions from students, some of whom welcome the proposals, some of whom would like more support with living costs. The Financial Times identifies that universities could lose out from the proposed new arrangements; it also has an editorial arguing that the policy is wrong-headed. The Herald reports concerns that Scottish universities might not be compensated for any loss in funding, should Labour win power in the general election. The Independent says that Ed Miliband has challenged David Cameron and Nick Clegg to promise that they would not further increase tuition fees.

The limits to free speech on campus are explored by an article in the Observer. Illustrated by a picture of Mohammed Emwazi, it reports on the tensions between coalition ministers ahead of the publication of an advisory note to be sent to universities as part of a new statutory requirement institutions to draw up strategies to combat radicalisation on campus. Wales Online says that radicalisation at Welsh universities is a serious threat.