THE recent vote in Parliament on university funding was a tough challenge for Liberal Democrat MPs. Sadly, it was impossible to honour our commitment to abolish university tuition fees because of the over-riding need to tackle the huge budget deficit bequeathed to us by the last Labour Government.

How we finance universities to enable them to maintain their world class reputation for research and teaching is a real problem. The huge expansion in university places over recent years is welcome, but requires significant and continuing investment. To tackle this problem, it was the last Labour Government which abolished free student grants and introduced tuition fees.

The coalition Government has made tuition fees fairer and more affordable for the less well off. Part-time students will no longer have to pay their fees upfront and students will not have to start repaying their loans until they earn at least £21,000-ayear a threshold which will increase each year.

Furthermore, all graduates will pay a lower amount each month while those in low paid jobs will repay little or nothing.

The Lib Dems are determined that everyone should receive a top class education at all ages.

We have introduced the Pupil Premium which will bring in more than £1m extra into primary schools in Darlington every year targetted specifically at children from less affluent backgrounds.

We recognise the importance of a good education for children from all backgrounds and that is why, when times are tough, our focus is on helping those who need it most.

Councillor Malcolm Dunstone, Chairman of the Darlington and Sedgefield Liberal Democrats.