Letter: Not our policy

David Blunkett misrepresents Liberal Democrat policy in his article, "A nettle grasped for all our children" (30 November)

At conference in March 1996, we agreed to state-funded tuition fees for all courses up to and including first degree. We remain vehemently opposed to a "student poll tax" which rather than widening access is already affecting student applications for next year and fails to provide the additional funds to meet the immediate financial crisis in our universities.

Many in the Labour Party agree with us (a recent poll found 45 per cent of Labour MPs opposed to fees) but have been prevented from saying so.

Don Foster

Lib-Dem education spokesman