Ben Wallace denies signing fee pledge after being photographed with signed fee pledge!

8:57pm Tue December 7th
Share
72 comments

Despite the NUS’ protestations to the contrary, Tory MP Ben Wallace denied signing their pledge on tuition fees.

So why was he photographed brandishing a copy with, erm, his signature on it?

UPDATE: Ben Wallace himself has posted this in the comments:

I did not sign the NUS pledge. If you look carefully at the photo you will see inserted the phrase “under the current system” … The fee changes being voted on this week are not for now they are for 2011/12. By that time the primary legisaltion will have been passsed to implement Browne’s recommendation.

Indeed, the words “under the current system” are visible on this higher resolution image:

However, it’s no surprise that students at Lancaster University, where the incriminating photos were taken, reject this chicanery. In an open letter to Wallace, the current and former union presidents Robbie Pickles and Michael Payne write:

The vote, due to take place in the Commons this Thursday is a vote on the current tuition fee cap only and not a vote on a new system for funding higher education, that will come later, along with considerations of the government proposals following the Browne review. The 2,000 of your constituents and I who petitioned you with personal letters and the 300 who witnessed you signing the personal pledge look forward to you holding dear to your promise.

So, Ben, it seems like you have some explaining to do:

  • Can you not see there is a difference between never having signed something and signing a so-called “amended version”?
  • Why did you deny to Michael Crick that you had signed the pledge?
  • Do you seriously think this excuse will wash with voters?

We await his response with interest.

This entry was posted in Conservative Party and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
Share

6 Comments

  1. mike
    Posted December 8, 2010 at 10:08 am | Permalink

    Tory MP Ben Wallace should be forced to stand down as an MP

    surely this is what they mean by the right to “recall”

    and hold MPS to account

  2. Ben Wallace
    Posted December 8, 2010 at 10:21 am | Permalink

    As ever an inaccurate rant. I did not sign the NUS pledge. If you look carefully at the photo you will see inserted the phrase “under the current system”. I did not believe that the starting slary of £15k reflected a graduate salary start point, i was concerned about support for poorer students and university obligations to tell potential under garduates what they would get for thier money. Lord Browne’s report answers those concerns and while i still wish more work is done to encourage wider access and also we use State funds to encourage under grads into subjects where the Nation has a shortage I can support the new preposals.

    The fee changes being voted on this week are not for now they are for 2011/12. By that time the primary legisaltion will have been passsed to implement Browne’s recommendation.
    I met with NUS leadership back in October and they were aware of all this in lead up to Browne report but it seems the post of this blog isn’t interested in the truth. BW

  3. Andy Syddall
    Posted December 8, 2010 at 11:48 am | Permalink

    Wallace, I don’t know what’s worse, your flawed argument or your flawed spelling.

  4. Ben Wallace
    Posted December 8, 2010 at 12:02 pm | Permalink

    firstly the vote on thursday is for: the year 2012/2013. So Students starting in Oct 2012 will be the first main intake. The regualtions going before the house is NOT for this year or even next year! The Current system will habve been changed.
    second I never said anything to Mr Crick’s face! He texted me last night and my reply is on his blog, i have repeated it below: “Look at the detail. It is amended and says: “under current system”. The Browne report changes all that. Lancaster Uni confirm I did not sign the NUS pledge, but an amended system.”

    “I didn’t like the old system because 15,000 was too low a threshold; poor student support was rubbish; and universities didn’t provide enough information on what students get for their cash. Browne answers all that. I want more done to encourage science, but it will do for now.”

  5. Mark Carrigan
    Posted December 8, 2010 at 2:47 pm | Permalink

    “firstly the vote on thursday is for: the year 2012/2013.”

    So you’re voting for an increase in fees within the current parliament i.e. exactly what you publicly declared that you wouldn’t do. The idea that this ceases to be mendacity because it’s a ‘new system’ is patronizing nonsense and shows your contempt for voters.

  6. Political Scrapbook
    Posted December 8, 2010 at 3:48 pm | Permalink

    @Ben Wallace: Your exchange with Michael Crick was via text message and not face-to-face. That’s completely different then(!)

66 Trackbacks

  1. By Political Scrapbook on December 7, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  2. By Imran Ahmed on December 7, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  3. By Adam Geraghty on December 7, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  4. By Hannah-Rebecca on December 7, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG

  5. By Aaron Porter on December 7, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  6. By Terry Hodgson on December 7, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  7. By Greg Auger on December 7, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    ♺ @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  8. By John Wills on December 7, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  9. By Daniel Ratcliffe on December 7, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  10. By Tiresias on December 7, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  11. By Richard Openshaw on December 7, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  12. By Andrew Tindall on December 7, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  13. By Luke Charters-Reid on December 7, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with his signed copy

  14. By Jack Allnutt on December 7, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  15. By Tom King on December 7, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tories? Lying? Surely not!

  16. By NUS UK on December 7, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed with signed copy

  17. By Cheadle Labour on December 7, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  18. By Terry Hodgson on December 7, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  19. By Keron Knight on December 7, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  20. By Ian M on December 7, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  21. By Jenna on December 7, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    Ben Wallace is a liar | Political Scrapbook: Despite the NUS' protestations to the contrary, Tory MP Ben Wallace… http://bit.ly/fOedpf

  22. By Bethan Dawson on December 7, 2010 at 9:47 pm

    RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG

  23. By Gareth Lindop on December 7, 2010 at 10:03 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  24. By Joseph Sherry on December 7, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  25. By Susan Nash on December 7, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  26. By Sandra Dillon on December 7, 2010 at 10:15 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  27. By Julie Walkling on December 7, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  28. By Mike Blakeney on December 7, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  29. By Mehdi Hasan on December 7, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  30. By Rosie on December 7, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  31. By Mark Martin on December 7, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    "@nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with signed copy"

  32. By Ma on December 7, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  33. By John Peart on December 7, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  34. By Ma on December 7, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    Is that liar, liar, pants on fire, then? http://bit.ly/i2bvGG Is it really his? But then why hold anyone else's. v. strange, v. strange

  35. By Teresa on December 7, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    RT @nextleft: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with h …

  36. By Phil Makepeace on December 7, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  37. By Craig Dewar on December 7, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing NUS pledge, but was photographed with his signed copy

  38. By Alice Pink on December 7, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  39. By James Asser on December 8, 2010 at 12:15 am

    Oops! > RT @benfurber: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  40. By Kelley Temple on December 8, 2010 at 1:17 am

    RT @nusuk: RT @lukejcr: RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG < Tory MP denies signing pledge, but was photographed …

  41. By AWM on December 8, 2010 at 1:45 am

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  42. By Mark Jones on December 8, 2010 at 2:24 am

    RT @psbook: NEW –> Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/hKoGoI

  43. By Political Scrapbook on December 8, 2010 at 7:46 am

    From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  44. By Tim Ireland on December 8, 2010 at 7:47 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  45. By karen rooks on December 8, 2010 at 7:48 am

    RT @psbook: Ben Wallace is a liar http://bit.ly/i2bvGG

  46. By Spadge Fromley on December 8, 2010 at 7:50 am

    http://bit.ly/h20D82 /via @bloggerheads Ben Wallace is a big fat lying liar, apparently.

  47. By Andy S on December 8, 2010 at 7:51 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  48. By Unity on December 8, 2010 at 7:51 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  49. By Andy Mabbett on December 8, 2010 at 7:51 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  50. By Sharon Wheeler on December 8, 2010 at 7:52 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  51. By Fabian McNeilly on December 8, 2010 at 7:52 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  52. By Paul Smith Bristol on December 8, 2010 at 7:55 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  53. By Stuart Wood on December 8, 2010 at 7:55 am

    RT @psbook: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82 #shoddymps

  54. By Andrew Griffiths on December 8, 2010 at 7:56 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  55. By Roland Ellison on December 8, 2010 at 7:56 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  56. By Richard Elsen on December 8, 2010 at 7:57 am

    http://bit.ly/gr5Rtc Tory MP Ben Webster denied signing uni fees pledge, except actually he did!

  57. By Perry Qc. on December 8, 2010 at 8:00 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  58. By thabet on December 8, 2010 at 8:09 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  59. By Val Stevenson on December 8, 2010 at 8:51 am

    RT @psbook: From yesterday evening: Tory MP denies supporting NUS pledge, but was photographed with a signed copy http://bit.ly/h20D82

  60. By Heskin Radiophonic on December 8, 2010 at 9:05 am

    My Member of Parliament doing what he does best: http://politicalscrapbook.net/2010/12/ben-wallace-is-a-liar/

  61. By Political Scrapbook on December 8, 2010 at 11:17 am

    Ben Wallace is still attempting to weasel himself out of the tuition fees pledge. Read his comments on our post here http://bit.ly/h20D82

  62. By Political Scrapbook on December 8, 2010 at 11:31 am

    @nusuk @AaronPorter Ben Wallace ties himself up in knots http://bit.ly/h20D82

  63. By Richard Openshaw on December 8, 2010 at 12:23 pm

    RT @psbook: Ben Wallace; what a hunt http://bit.ly/h20D82

  64. By Gordon MacMillan on December 8, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    Tory with a shovel. Embarrassing. RT @benfurber: Ben Wallace is digging himself an even bigger hole on his NUS pledge. http://bit.ly/h20D82

  65. By Political Scrapbook on December 8, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    MPs Ben Wallace http://bit.ly/flayx0 and John Hemming http://bit.ly/gmsJ5y have both commented on our tuition posts. Readers not impressed.

  66. By Molly on December 8, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    RT @psbook: MPs Ben Wallace http://bit.ly/flayx0 and John Hemming http://bit.ly/gmsJ5y have both commented on our tuition posts. Readers …

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared.

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

  • GMB Remploy campaign

  • Follow us on Twitter