Burnham-On-Sea’s MP abstained in the controversial parliamentary vote about raising students’ university fees on (Thursday, December 9th).
The coalition government won the vote to raise tuition fees in England to up to £9,000 per year amid violent protests in Westminster.
The coalition agreement allowed Liberal Democrat MPs to choose to abstain on the tuition fees issue, but not vote against.
The abstainers included Burnham’s Tessa Munt plus Lorely Burt (chair of the Lib Dem parliamentary party), Simon Hughes, Chris Huhne, Tessa Munt, Sir Robert Smith, John Thurso and Stephen Williams.
Demonstrators clashed outside with police in Westminster over the issue, as MPs voted in favour of trebling tuition fees.
The Liberal Democrats’ vote was split three ways: 21 voted no, 27 voted yes and seven abstained.
