Cable may abstain from fees vote

Mr Cable could end up abstaining from a vote on his own policy

Business Secretary Vince Cable has told the BBC he may abstain in the vote on university tuition fees.

Mr Cable, a senior Lib Dem whose party had opposed raising tuition fees before the election, is now the minister responsible for universities.

He told BBC Radio 5 live his “personal instinct” was to back the rise but he was “willing to go along with my colleagues” if they choose to abstain.

Lib Dem MPs have been targeted by student protesters angry at the U-turn.

Mr Cable told the Victoria Derbyshire programme: “My own personal instinct, partly because I’m the secretary of state responsible for universities and partly because I think the policy is right, my own instincts are very much to vote for it but we want to vote as a group.”

He said discussions were continuing about how that would happen and he was talking to Lib Dem MPs individually about the policy, which he said was more “progressive” than the one that had been inherited from the previous government.

He acknowledged that the issue had meant his party was “going through a difficult period” adding: “We want to support each other, we try to agree these things as a group as other parties do, but as I say my position is somewhat different but I’m willing to go along with my colleagues.”

A vote is due next month on plans to allow English universities to charge £6,000, almost double the current £3,290 cap, and up to £9,000 under certain conditions.

The coalition deal allowed for Lib Dems – who during the election campaign pledged to oppose any rise in tuition fees – to abstain in any vote on an increase in fees.

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