Nick Clegg urges students to see 'true picture' on fees

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11870818

Nick Clegg has written to the NUS president arguing the new system is fair, ahead of the third tuition fees demonstration. Nick Clegg had urged students to consider about government plans to raise tuition fees. According to the Prime Minister graduates in England on lower incomes would be better off than they are now.  He told the Nation Union of Students that it was ‘crucial’ that people realised there will be no upfront fees and repayments will begin at £21,000. MP for Cardiff Central, Ms Willott, is against these plans. She said that she could not support plan to allow English universities to charge £6,000, almost double the current £3,290 cap, and up to £9,000 under certain conditions. On Tuesday MPs will debate the student finance proposals and government plan to cut university teaching budgets and support allowances for low-income further education. Student groups are afraid that higher debts will put many people off from applying to university. But research by the million + and London Economics think thanks, published on Tuesdag, suggests 60% of students will be worse of under the plan by an average of £5,000.

My opinion: I think it is not fair that students have pay higher tuition fees, especially when they were promised that the tuition fees would not increase . On the other hand I think Nick Clegg is right about that students must urged the ‘true picture’ about government plans to raise tuiton fees. The economic situation is worse and government must cut in some benefits. If it is true that lower incomes are better off with the new system than the students must consider the new plans.  Students think that that higher debt will pun many people off from applying to university while research suggests that 60% of students will be worse of under the plan by an average of £5,000.   Also I think the repayment plans are fair. If you want to go to university, then the government will support the students by way of lending student fees required. When the students graduate and earn enough money, the students can repay debts. 

Phil Woolas ejected from parliament over election slurs

An election court barred Mr Woolas from politics for three years for making false statements against his opponent. Two high court judged ruled that the former immigration minister Phil Woolas lied about his Liberal Democrat opponent during the general elections, in a judgment that is likely to have profound implication for all future campaigns. He loses automatically his seat in the Commans and is barred for three years.  Woolas knowingly misled voters in Oldham East in a desperate bid to stir up religious tensions in the last days of the elections of the election by claiming Watkins had ‘wooed’ Islamic extremists. This is what Elwyn Watkins had claimed about Woolas. He also said that Woolas lied about Watkins’s intention to live in the constituency.

Some will say that Woolas was doing what lots of other politicians have done for years. But I think this is a pretty extreme thing to claim that your opponent is a terrorist supporter. Politics can be very rough especially during campaigns. But this time I think this is beyond rough and tumble. I think it must be a clear fight.  In my opinion it is a bad thing to tell lies about your opponents to get themselves elected.  This judgment does not only affect this campaign but also in the future. This is also a warning for all politicians that they have to be very careful about what they saying about their opponents.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/05/phil-woolas-ejected-parliament-election

Long-term jobless 'could face compulsory manual labour'

People who are long term unemployed could be forced to do community work, like gardening or litter cleaning.  Work and Pension secretary Iain Duncun will outline plans for four week placements.  He said:  ‘One thing we can do is pull people in to do one or two weeks’ manual work – turn up at 9 am and leave at 5 PM, to give people a sense of work, but also when we think they’re doing other work’.  

The UK has one of the highest rates of workless households in Europe, with 5 million people on out-of-work benefits and 1,9 million children living in homes where no-one has a job.

Everyone who refused to take part of this plans or failing to turn up on time to work could have their jobseekers allowance stopped for at least three months.  

I think the purpose of this plan is good.  This plan are intended to support to that people back into the habit of getting up and going out to work.  I think it is of a great value to get people back into the work routine on their daily life.  In Holland you must also do some kind of community work it is called ‘Maatschappelijke activering’.  I think you must work for your money because the government pays you.  


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11704765

Royal wedding: Prince William and Kate congratulated

Last Tuesday the couple announced to get married next spring or summer.  Prince Williams proposed Kate while they were on a Holiday in Kenia in October.  Prince William gave Kate his mother Diana’s engagement ring, which he carried in a rucksack for three weeks.  The engagement was widely report in all sorts of media around the world, with The Times describing the couple as ‘The new  romantics’.  Kate Middelton and Prince Williams have met each other as students at St Andrews University, Fife.  They are together for eight years.   Prince Charles made a  joke and said, ‘They ‘ve been practicing long enough.’

This is a hot item in England.   The paparazzi in England are very suspicious and now finally they are going to get married.   In another article have read that this couple were chased by the paparazzi for months.  I think that in England the paparazzi are hungry ,relentless and fearless to get a exclusive photo for their tabloids.   This was also the big issue when Prince Diana died.   I think that Kate must get used to all the media attention. The media are describing her as a normal girl.  I wonder if she could handle all the media attention and if she would get settled in The  Royal family.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11771616