Today is the United Nations Recognised International Students' Day. To commemorate the day Prospective Labour MP for York Outer, Councillor James Alexander, met with University of York students and launched the "keep the cap" campaign.

There is a review coming up as to whether the tuition fees cap should be lifted or not? James is launching a campaign in favour of keeping the cap which stops Universities charging more than £3,300 for tuition fees.

Councillor James Alexander added, "I am impressed at the amount of investment that has gone into higher education since Labour came to power. You only have to look at the University of York, Askham Bryan, York College and York St John University to see what a huge difference this has made. I work for York St John University and a part of my job is encouraging young people to go into higher education and better themselves. However, in these times of international economic uncertainty I do not want to see potential world class academics put off University due to a lifting of the tuition fees cap. Therefore I am leading a York campaign to express how much young people and residents want the tuition fees cap to remain to stop Universities and Colleges charging whatever they want for education."
Wes Streeting, NUS President said, "There must be a proper debate about a viable alternative to the current higher education funding system, which is creaking under the pressure of market forces. We need to alleviate the financial pressure on students, graduates and their families, not exacerbate it by contemplating raising the cap on fees. I am delighted that James is launching this campaign in York. I am also very pleased that International Students' Day 2008 has been chosen to kick off such an important campaign for students' rights."
Chris Buglass, a third year student said, "We are pleased to have someone like James who is interested in student matters who will argue our cause. James' previous experience in being Students' Union President at York is invaluable in leading this campaign. We think young people should have the ability to go to University irrespective of family income and we support James' efforts to ensure the cap is kept."

James will be asking as many students and people in York Outer as possible to sign his petition to keep the cap.