'Pernicious tosh' of top-up fee defenders 1

Gerard Kelly (Leader, 3 April) calls for a debate on top-up fees, but insists that they are "necessary". What about the graduate tax? If I were a student, I would rather know that I would pay tax at a rate of, say, 41 per cent or 42 per cent (rather than 40 per cent) when I started work, than graduate owing £18,000 (assuming top-up fees rise to £6,000 a year). Not only would such a debt be a massive burden in itself, it would also prevent me from saving up a deposit to buy a flat for several years. This is crazy.

Those who claim that increased top-up fees are the only option either lack imagination or are deliberately trying to close down debate in order to promote their own politically motivated agenda.

Pete Dorey, Reader in politics, Cardiff University.