LIBERAL DEMOCRATS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR STUDENT VOTE

The Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, today launched his Party's campaign to win the votes of students at the General Election. In a speech to students at the London School of Economics, Mr Kennedy stressed the importance of the student vote, and particularly its role in deciding the results in a number of key seats.

These seats are set out in the Notes to Editors.

These seats are set out below.

He said:

"Labour broke its manifesto promise to students about top-up fees - that will not be forgiven. The Liberal Democrats were also instrumental in scrapping tuition fees in Scotland - proving we mean what we say.

"Top-up fees put students off university, especially those from a poorer background. And is it really right that so many young people are starting out in life with mortgage style debts hanging round their necks?

"Others want us to act on the environment. Again and again we have pressed Tony Blair to engage with this issue, and to use his alleged influence with George Bush to get him to sign up to the Kyoto treaty and talk sense on climate change. We're still waiting.

"But for many people in this country - and certainly for many students - the defining issue at this election will be the Iraq war.

"My party stood united in opposition to the war. It was a matter of principle. While the Prime Minister - as we now know - led us into battle on a false premise: with the Conservatives as his principal cheerleaders.

"Today, we continue to ask the critical questions. We want to know the exit strategy. We are urging the Government to set a date to bring our troops home. We are still representing what you care about.

"There are 14 Labour and 13 conservative-held seats around the country where the number of students exceeds the gap between the sitting MP and the Liberal Democrat candidate.

"My message today to the Liberal Democrat Youth and Students is that you can make your mark. You can certainly make a difference. If you get out and tell people what we stand for."

David Rendel MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Higher Education Minister, added:

"Liberal Democrats believe that the taxpayer, not the student, should meet the cost of Higher Education. We voted against tuition fees in 1998. We led the opposition to top-up fees in Parliament in 2004.

"Only the Liberal Democrats are committed to a fair deal for students. Only the Liberal Democrats can be trusted to deliver."

Chris Lomax, Chair of Liberal Democrat Youth and Students, said:

"Poll after poll is showing the Liberal Democrats ahead amongst students. By May we need to make sure that it is not just 1 in 3, nor 1 in 2, but a clear majority of students who vote for us.

"Most students voting in 2005 will be doing so for the first time. We need to tell them that Labour betrayed them in 1997 over tuition fees, and again in 2001 over top-up fees."

Hannah Hedges, who is the Party's youngest PPC (Hitchin & Harpenden) and a student at the London School of Economics, said:

"Student debt not only shapes day to day decisions, it affects future plans too. It means that rungs on the property ladder are higher to reach, and that graduates are less likely to enter often lower paid professions in the public sector, such as teaching."