Today I voted against raising tuition fees.
I am concerned that the government does not appear to have a sustainable strategy for dealing with higher education funding. Students at universities, including in my constituency, are suffering as a result.
Allowing ministers to increase tuition fees will just load more debt onto students during a cost of living crisis.
The way England’s tuition fee system is currently set up up means working class students and those from low and middle-income households pay much more for their education.
That’s because the wealthiest students are in a position to pay their fees up front – therefore accruing no interest – while the rest are forced to take out loans and are then saddled with mounting debt from interest.
Raising tuition fees is neither a fair or long-term solution to the funding challenges facing our universities.