Close vote on tuition fees was to be expected says Minister

Education Minister Tim Crookall says he’s not surprised a Tynwald vote on charging students for their higher education was close.

Yesterday the court voted 22 to 10 in favour of the plans which will see students contribute towards their tuition fees through a government loan scheme.

It’s the end of a long battle for Mr Crookall’s department, which pulled the item from last month’s Tynwald agenda to hold further talks.

After last night’s vote Mr Crookall acknowledged it was a controversial issue: