COLCHESTER MP Bob Russell, says he is “unhappy” about a recent revelation by his party it could back down on its flagship policy of abolishing tuition fees.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg hinted the party might ditch its commitment to scrapping university fees during a question and answer session on Sunday.

Mr Clegg claimed it would be impossible to justify the £12.5bn cost of abolishing tuition fees and upholding the policy in the face of such a severe recession.

Mr Russell said he was “unhappy” with the move, but admitted it was important to be realistic.

He said: “I am not best pleased with any changes in that direction, but we do have to be realistic about the state of the economy and our policies have to evolve with that. I am not happy about it.

“I am against tuition fees, but I am also against id cards and one would hope we can look for a suitable solution.

“I want to see a more just society and Education is an important part of that, along with housing and health, but when the economy is in freefall, which is what is happening under the Labour Government, you have to re-evaluate your policies.”

He added: “I shall be talking with colleagues about how best to salvage the situation.”

Saad Mohammed, vice president for education at the University of Essex Students’ Union said: “We strongly believe education should be free for all.

“Education is a right, not a privilege and we will be continuing to campaign and lobby Government for a return to free education.”

A proposal put forward by Mr Russell has been accepted as official Liberal Democrat Party policy at its annual conference.

If implemented, it would increase planting and green spaces in new urban developments at the planning stage, and give increased powers for planning authorities.

He explained: “Planting and green spaces are very beneficial to the urban population.

“Over the past ten years the level of planting and green landscaping proposed for new developments has decreased by up to 50 per cent.

“In addition, the amount of planting actually delivered on new developments is substantially less than promised during the planning process.

“This trend needs to be reversed for the sake of the urban environment in which the majority of this country’s population now lives.”