Motion text
That this House welcomes the move to online university learning in order to combat the spread of the covid-19 virus; is concerned that the Government took this decision after months of scientific and trade union advice; notes that the University and College Union (UCU) warned against students returning to universities in August 2020 and that on the 26th September 2020 the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) recommended a shift to online learning unless face-to-face teaching is absolutely essential; is concerned that, according to UCU, there have been over 52,000 positive cases of covid-19 in UK higher and further education institutions; recognises that students have been required to stay in their university halls, which placed an intolerable strain on mental health, and that now students are learning online, thus missing out on the usual university experience, and cannot return to the campuses they are incurring an average of £57,0000 worth of debt to attend; believes that the last decade of extortionate tuition fees has been a failed experiment, which has saddled young people with debt, deterred working class people from gaining a higher education and turned our universities into profit-seeking business; and calls on the Government to refund rents, scrap tuition fees, cancel student debt for good and ensure that young people are not punished for seeking an education.
Signatures (26)
The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.
Webbe, Claudia
Independent
Signed on
6 January 2021
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on
6 January 2021
Sultana, Zarah
Labour
Signed on
6 January 2021
Lavery, Ian
Labour
Signed on
6 January 2021
Ribeiro-Addy, Bell
Labour
Signed on
6 January 2021
Morris, Grahame
Labour
Signed on
6 January 2021
In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.
Johnson, Kim
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Mearns, Ian
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Abbott, Ms Diane
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Barker, Paula
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Blake, Olivia
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Corbyn, Jeremy
Independent
Signed on
11 January 2021
Hanna, Claire
Social Democratic & Labour Party
Signed on
11 January 2021
Osamor, Kate
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Begum, Apsana
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Osborne, Kate
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Shannon, Jim
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on
11 January 2021
Hill, Mike
Labour
Signed on
12 January 2021
Trickett, Jon
Labour
Signed on
12 January 2021
Lucas, Caroline
Green Party
Signed on
13 January 2021
Butler, Dawn
Labour
Signed on
18 January 2021
Whitley, Mick
Labour
Signed on
18 January 2021
Carden, Dan
Labour
Signed on
18 January 2021
Byrne, Ian
Labour
Signed on
25 January 2021
Foy, Mary Kelly
Labour
Signed on
25 January 2021
Long Bailey, Rebecca
Labour
Signed on
11 February 2021
There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.