Graduate grumblings or Coalition catastrophe?  

First of all a big thank you to all those who've sent me congratulatory messages regarding my recent appointment to Labour's front bench in parliament. For those who haven't been following the announcements, Ed Miliband has asked me to be a Shadow Transport Minister – a post I am really looking forward to. Conveniently, I am typing this blog on the train (the two hours' journey from Stockport-Euston is an ideal amount of time to gather my thoughts and put it all down in a suitable piece). There's another political row brewing; this time over student fees.   Unless addressed, it could put the Lib/Con Coalition under real pressure, and perhaps event to breaking point. From the outset, let me state that I benefited from the old system whereby my student fees were paid and I also received a maintenance grant – albeit almost whittled down to nothing by the Major...