Greens deputy leader reveals plan to scrap tuition fees in 'no moment for half measures' move

Amelia Womack appeals to young voters by promising to abolish student tuition fees ahead of the general election.

She confirmed that the "bold" policy would appear in party's general election manifesto, which is expected to be released at the end of March.

The proposal means that undergraduates from the European Union (EU), who are considered "home students", would not have to pay tuition fees in England and Wales, a spokesman told IBTimes UK.

But Tom Sharman, policy communications manager for the Greens, said the party was "still looking into the detail" of whether students from outside of the EU would have to pay tuition fees.

Womack said the commitment to free undergraduate university education would be funded through "general, progressive" taxation.

"Because when we say that education is a public good – we mean it," she told attendees at the party's spring conference in Liverpool.

Womak - we are the only party prepared to make bold steps to cure sickness in our economy #gpconf pic.twitter.com/IYca1byoGD

— Ian Silvera (@ianjsilvera) March 7, 2015

The 30-year-old, who has been deputy leader of the left-wing party since September, also criticised the Coalition Government for an economy that "works for the common good".

"We now live in a country as defined by our foodbanks as we are by our football – as known for our tax avoidance as we are for our tea," she declared.

Womack also told IBTimes UK that that the Greens would scrap the minimum wage age bands and introduce a Living Wage for all workers in a bid to boost youth unemployment.

"We believe in equal pay for equal work," she said. "If you look at the heart of all of our policies, we believe in investment – that's investment in our NHS, investment in our communities, investment in the renewable industries and in our public services."

In addition, the deputy leader said she would hope to abolish "unfair" unpaid internships in the future.

"If we were going to work towards a fair future, then we would abolish them eventually. But that's the step change we are working on at the moment," Womack said.

The announcement comes after the Labour Party promised they would reduce tuition fees to £6,000($9,022, €8,320) a year, down from its current limit of £9,000 in England and Wales.

Ed Miliband said he would pay for the policy by raising £2bn a year by stopping pension tax reliefs.

The Labour leader attacked Nick Clegg, who promised before the 2010 general election that he would not raise the fees, over the issue.

"What has happened over the last five years is more than just a betrayal of election promises, it is a betrayal of an entire generation: a betrayal from their first steps to the time when they stride into the world of work; a betrayal from nursery to school, from college to university, a betrayal to the jobs or homes they hope to have afterwards – and even on their ability to vote," Miliband said.

Elsewhere, Ukip have pledged to scrap tuition fees for students taking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics related subjects.

"Our policy is remove the young people who have shown ability from having to pay tuition fees at all if they take a degree course in the sciences, technology, maths or medicine," Paul Nuttall, the party's deputy leader and education spokesman, said.

"Labour's proposal goes nowhere near as far and shows that they really aren't in touch with the financial reality of many people's lives."