I don't need to tell you that tony Blair is shite. But I think people don't seem to realise that university fees are not just a student issue. They are a capitalist issue: the consumerisation and privatisation of our education system. The idea that education is only their to make you into a better commodity for the labour market.
They are all part of TOny Blairs evil ideology of Bombs and Profit - he must be stopped.

why we should engage with mainstream politics?
While we understand that it does not represent the vast majority of people it does affect us... this government has extensively attacked all my values from human rights to democracy to society.
this is one we can win, the government might lose this vote in parliament (the only vote for 7 years that this was really possible.) People hate tony blair and want an excuse to get rid of him. they would never drop a prime minister over war and national security - they always need another reason.

At the least write to your MP: www.faxyourmp.com - it's so easy! this does help. not much but a bit!

ring them up:
Parliament's switchboard number is 020 7219 3000.

Any and all good direct actions on the issue are very welcome!! I would of course never encourage anyone to break the law but people can make their own decisions.

I also ask you to visit www.ousu.org and read
The Alternative Future of Higher Education

this is a much better plan for funding higher education.

WE CAN BRING DOWN TONY BLAIR! He has gone to war 5 times in 7 years!! this is so much worse than even people like Thatcher... think about it!

Some NUS reasons why top up fees are shite?

20 key facts
1. The average cost of a degree is now nearly £20,000.

2. Increased studying and living costs in England and Wales has caused student debt to rise by 31% since 2002.

3. Top-up fees combined with increases in the cost of living could raise student debt at graduation to as much as £33,708 by 2010.

4. Nearly three quarters of students would have reconsidered their first choice of university if it had demanded a top up fee.

5. The shortfall between the maximum student loan of £3,698 for a student studying in London and the actual cost of living and studying in the capital is nearly £5,000.

6. Tony Blair is one of 45 Labour MPs - soon to be voting on top up fees - who received an Oxford University education during the full grant era.

7. Two thirds of 2003 graduates moved back in with their parents to save money and pay off their debt.

8. Since the elimination of grants, student debt has increased by 544% and now totals over £5 billion.

9. Parents are now paying more than £500 million towards university costs every year.

10. In 1992 only a third of students owed money. Now 90% are in debt.

11. Only 17% of university students are from working class backgrounds (a decrease of 3% in less than two years).

12. Applications to medical school from students in the poorest social groups have decreased by 50% in five years.

13. Poorer students owe 15% more on graduation.

14. 83% of school leavers and further education students worry about the debts they will build up while at university. 75% believe that if student loans were abolished and grants brought back, more people would go to university.

15. Three quarters of working class young people who decide not to pursue higher education cite lack of money and fear of debt as the main reason.

16. 40% of all students now work while studying for an average of 13 hours a week.

17. More than half of lower income students work for an average of 15 hours a week. Nearly half of them are concerned that working is adversely affecting their studies.

18. 57% of students who work do so to cover the cost of basic essentials, 11% are working to cover tuition fees.

19. There has been a fivefold increase in inquires from British students about scholarships to US universities since the government proposed top-up fees.

20. If we don't act now, debts caused by top-up fees could become a fact of life for most students in 2006.