The Labour MP for Cambridge, Daniel Zeichner, has condemned the prospective further increases to tuition fees announced by Universities Minister Jo Johnson on Thursday. He was joined in criticising the plans by Liberal Democrat Julian Huppert, his predecessor, and would-be successor, in the House of Commons.

Zeichner first addressed the issue in parliament on Tuesday, saying: “The proposed teaching excellence framework will allow some universities to charge tuition fees rising in line with inflation. While it is fair, and welcome, to highlight the importance of teaching quality, the removal of the free cap in what can only be described as a slightly underhand way is not very welcome.”

Speaking to Varsity after Thursday’s announcement, Zeichner said that he was “opposed to and will continue to oppose any rise in tuition fees,” declaring that, had Labour won last year’s general election, fees would have fallen to £6,000.

Asked whether he agreed with the principle of fees rising in line with inflation, Zeichner again emphasised the difference the coalition government’s hike in tuition fees has made: “Had Labour been in control from 2010, we’d be looking at fees of around £3,600, which is a big difference to what we have now.”

“I will never forgive the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats for tripling tuition fees.”

Prospective parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Cambridge, Julian Huppert was also critical of the prospect of further increases to tuition fees.

“I have campaigned against fees almost my whole adult life,” Dr Huppert told Varsity. “I was a student here in Cambridge when Labour brought them in, after promising not to, and when they tripled them, having promised not to do that either.”

Huppert, who was the MP for Cambridge between 2010 and 2015, opposed the coalition government’s tripling of fees: “I voted against the increase in 2010, and proposed an amendment that would have seen them phased out. I was bitterly disappointed that fees increased to £9,000.”

Asked whether further increases could be justified, Huppert said: “I do not think fees should be further increased, and so I disagree strongly with the increase that has just been announced by this Tory government. I would like to see tuition fees ended entirely, and replaced either with general taxation or a graduate tax.”

“In the meantime, my priority is to help students with the cost of living while they are a student – I have heard too many stories of people struggling with rent and other costs.”