"Wes follows the general approach of the Compass group (he's written for them in the past). Left-ish, but wedded to Labour. Wants change, but only what's 'realistic'"

Sounds good to me; though I don't get why the poster thinks that this precludes the reversal of previous Labour policy.

I think Wes's arguments here are extremely sensible ones. I can't believe you're arguing for NUS's campaigns to be based upon the principle that the currently impossible must be directly obtained.

Wes's (and NUS's) demands represent a sensible and achievable step one, something that the hard left has failed to do for decades.

The biggest problem with Compass's approach is the advocacy of graduate tax. Much as I support targeted grants, I personally (despite my massive Compass-ism)believe that the delivery of education should be free of charge, and totally separate to the ability to pay.

the right wing argument that Graduates earn more is bunkum. Rich people earn more without exception, and we can target them uber-efficiently with progressive taxation.

I find the duality of the line that progressive tax will cause the rich to emigrate set alongside the idea that graduates will be happy to stay and pay.

Of course they will. But then, so would the rich.