Readers' reactions

Two weeks ago in The THES... Labour MP Bill Rammell argued that the government should not allow universities to charge differential fees

Bill Rammell's article left me speechless.

He tells us that he "strongly supported" the introduction of a Pounds 1,000 tuition fee a few years ago, calling the decision part of the "politics and economics of the real world".

Now, when the inevitable next step rears its rather ugly head, Bill seems to suggest it would be a "step too far".

Why did you, and many like you, Bill, not realise that the first step was the step too far? Now that your government has imposed a tuition fee, you cannot expect not to have the level of that fee challenged and raised.

Why did you not realise that the imposition of a fee was at odds with your government's policy to widen access, so that more disadvantaged youngsters might enter university? Implementing a policy to widen access takes money.

The train for funding education is chugging along, Bill. Your government started it. Don't try jumping off now.

Cheryl Turner, Warwick University