Edinburgh University Students Association (EUSA) President Liz Rawlings has pledged that EUSA will stage a protest outside Mike Crockart MP’s office if he fails to honour the Liberal Democrats pre-election pledge to vote against a rise in tuition fees in England and Wales.

EUSA have already held a meeting with Edinburgh West MP in which he stated that he must see specific proposals before he can decide how to vote.

In a statement issued to The Student, Crockart said, “I have serious reservations about some of the proposals contained in the Browne Report, which could see the creation of an Ivy League of British universities and worsen the disincentives to poorer students entering higher education. I do, however, need to see the detail of government proposals before I can decide how I will vote on them.”

Every Lib Dem parliamentary candidate signed the National Union of Students pledge, promising to vote against any future tuition-fee increases before May’s general election.  However after entering into a coalition government with the Conservatives, it looks likely that many Lib-Dems will abstain or vote in favour of any future bill legislating an increase in fees.

Rawlings told The Student that the meeting had with Crockart was “ambiguous” and that it was clear that he had “not decided what he is going to do”.

She added, “If he says he’ll vote against tuition fees, we’re going to praise him and hold a rally outside his office, but if he says he’s going to vote with the government or abstain, then we’re going to hold a demonstration outside his office. We won’t let this go.”

Rawlings believes “it is right” for students to “feel betrayed” at the party’s decision to agree to only abstain on a vote on tuition fee increase, only months after promising, “to vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament”.

“Lots and lots of students voted for the Liberal Democrats on the basis of their pledge on tuition fees, and they’ve now gone back on that and look as if they might vote for tuition fees, and its right for students to feel betrayed about that.  I think it will have a big effect on the Scottish elections as well, where we’re looking at the Liberal Democrats not doing very well if they don’t honour their pledge.”