Prior to the demo against cuts in tuition fees and the abolition of the EMA planned for 4pm today, this release just in from Andrew Turner’s office. Ed
The Island’s MP, Andrew Turner has said he is ‘more than happy’ to meet demonstrators protesting about changes to higher education funding and the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
However, he said he is concerned that those behind the planned demonstration outside his office this afternoon did not get in touch with him in advance to make sure he was available to meet them.
Mr Turner commented, “I am always more than happy to hear what Islanders have to say, but my weekly surgery is on Friday afternoons. This is no longer held at my office, so I have appointments elsewhere with Islanders who need my help. If the organisers had contacted me beforehand I would have agreed a time when I would have been available to talk to the protestors – but I would have avoided my surgery times. People who make surgery appointments have problems that are worrying them, often about sensitive and confidential issues. I don’t see why they should have to go through a crowd of demonstrators to get to see me. I fully accept that this is planned as a peaceful demonstration, but as I cannot be there myself, in consultation with the police I have decided to close my office early this afternoon.”
Contact made with organisers
He went on to say, “My office has already contacted the organisers of the demo and offered several options for a meeting with them, including earlier on today – but they say they would rather set up an appointment for a later date. I fully support the right to organise a peaceful protest and I look forward to hearing their views. I am surprised however that not one the organisers contacted me about this in advance of the vote on tuition fees, which took place last Thursday. In fact, despite the widespread publicity about this issue fewer than 30 Islanders got in touch before the vote – and that was on both sides of the argument!
“There will be changes made to the EMA to be announced next year. More funds will be made available locally to be targeted on those students who truly need financial help in order to continue their studies. Decisions on who needs that help will be made locally by the schools and colleges they are studying in, rather than by civil servants in Whitehall.”
