Clegg's cynical deceit over fees has tarnished politics for a generation of young people

Following Nick Clegg's so-called 'apology' on fees it's worth reminding ourselves that this was no casual pledge. He put the pledge to abolish tuition fees and vote against any increase at the centre of his General Election campaign, particularly in constituencies like Sheffield Central with high levels student voters. The Liberal Democrats relentlessly promoted the pledge on both our University campuses throughout the campaign. As Caroline Dowd, Sheffield Hallam University Student's Union President in 2010 said 'Before the election we couldn't keep Nick Clegg out of our Union, although afterwards we couldn't get him in'.

But Clegg had already decided to ditch the pledge a month before he made an emotional appeal to the annual NUS conference for students to vote Liberal Democrat because they would 'resist, vote against, and campaign against any lifting of the cap on tuition fees ... with a plan to abolish tuition fees within 6 years'. You can watch the video here.

This cynical deceit from a Party leader who played the 'I'm different, you can trust me' card at the General Election has not only damaged the Liberal Democrats, but tarnished politics for a generation of young people.