That’s the Review that was explicitly promised in the 2004 Education Act as a condition for bringing in fees in the first place.

It’s generally considered to be a good thing to Review significant changes in policy. It’s also generally considered a good thing to bring in Green Papers, debate issues and then issue a White Paper before entirely changing the whole funding structure of a key part of British society, but then good governance seems very low down the priority list of this coalition.

The Coalition’s record on tuition fees is made up of broken promice after broken promice after broken promice.

The Lib Dems said last May that they would not increase tuition fees (they have), Vince Cable was floating the idea of a graduate tax as late as last August (it went), Nick Clegg said that £9000 would be the exception (it’s not), and finally they said the OFFA would have power to stop institutions charging £9000 (it doesn’t).

And Cameron talks about cutting the contribution made by taxpayers, but forgets that this is in fact increasing shortterm costs since the lones are funded by the government, a situation made worse if a lot of students default.

The government has made a mess and the taxpayer is picking up the tab.

I don’t like the new fees but I have difficulty imagining that Labour would have ignored its own review’s recommendations and done any different.