A week after violent protests by students over the proposed tripling of university tuition fees, Nick Clegg was cornered by Oxford graduate Portia Murray who asked him to defend the promise Liberal Democrats made not to increase fees in their 2010 election manifesto.

He gives his answer on this video, appearing uncomfortable at times, and states that as his party is not in power, they are unable to keep their pledge, and that Lord Browne’s proposal is the fairest option after considering all other possibilities.

At the end of the video, Portia explains that she felt compelled to ask Nick Clegg about tuition fees as he had failed to turn up to two planned meetings in the last month with students in Oxford to discuss this, as had Vince Cable.

Nick Clegg was speaking at an event for the Political Studies Association/Hansard Society where he gave the annual lecture on parliamentary reform.