While Jon Denham makes the points, the Coalition bunkers down

The debate in the commons about tuition fees may not have changed minds amongst MPs or shifted public opinion however, there was one conspicuous  highlight and that was the speech delivered by John Denham the shadow minister in reply to Cable.

Confident, wide ranging and analytical John Denham showed a clear grasp of the issues, not only relative to the raising of fees but the wider consequences of the coalition's higher education policy.

And, why will  the government not, as many MPs, including LibDems, have asked, give more time to debating the proposal.  A mere 5 hours is surely counterproductive and an impediment to democracy.  Not only debating time has been curtailed, but extended time for proper scrutiny and a thorough impact assessment of the wider outcomes, has been refused.  There is not even a white paper.  

Changes are being made daily, tinkering, as is the case with all Coalition proposals, is the order of the day. Sops to public opinion are produced out of ministerial  hats, driven by PR  for the benefit of news bulletins.

This government is arrogant.  They have not won the argument, and they know it.  But shock and awe is the primary weapon of their ideological attack on society. Democracy and public opinion count for nothing.