Tory fightback over tuition fees begins
Long-awaited review of higher education funding has power to woo younger voters but is politically ‘risky’
The Government is launching a review of university tuition fees, with Theresa May hoping to woo younger voters, as the Tories finally tackle what the BBC’s Sean Coughlan calls “one of the toughest domestic decisions facing a fragile government”.
First introduced under Tony Blair, tuition fees have been a political hot potato for successive governments. May campaigned for the 2005 election on a Tory manifesto which pledged to scrap them - before the Coalition government voted to raise them to £9,000, despite a strict commitment by the Lib Dems to do the opposite.
The issue dominated last year’s general election, with many commentators saying after the ballot that Jeremy Corbyn’s promise to scrap fees helped Labour garner the youth vote, contributing to its remarkable surge.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Realising the Tories must do more to woo this younger demographic, Theresa May has signalled her intention to freeze tuition fee increases while the wide-ranging review into higher education funding goes ahead.
Former education secretary Justine Greening and former universities minister Jo Johnson were long seen as obstacles to a shake-up of the university funding system but with them gone, the way is now open for May to make good on her pledge.
Earlier this month, the i newspaper reported that the Treasury had “cleared the way for May to slash tuition fees by as much as a third as part of Downing Street’s push to broaden the Conservatives’ appeal among voters”.
However, some Tories have warned a blanket cut to fees would simply be a “gift to the middle classes”.
Robert Halfon, Tory chair of the education select committee, warned: “If we are going to overhaul fees it has to work for the most disadvantaged students. Too many students are getting paltry returns from attending university.”
Others, such as former Labour minister Peter Hain, have argued for tuition fees to be replaced in favour of a graduate tax.
An attempt by May to win over the youth vote by overhauling fees would be “high risk”, says former universities minister Lord Willets. He argues the government cannot trump Corbyn, with Labour having already promised to scrap fees, while a move to placate the young could backfire and put off some older voters.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The hunt for Planet Nine
Under The Radar Researchers seeking the elusive Earth-like planet beyond Neptune are narrowing down their search
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine interactive crossword - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
USC under fire for canceling valedictorian speech
Speed Read Citing safety concerns, the university canceled a pro-Palestinian student's speech
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
FBI arrests Cornell student for allegedly threatening to rape and murder Jews
Speed Read The junior engineering student reportedly confessed to posting the vile messages to a Greek life online forum
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Can British universities keep up with global rivals?
Today's big question UK is losing ground to competitors, with China edging up the rankings
By Felicity Capon Published
-
Pros and cons of the International Baccalaureate
Pros and Cons IB offers a more holistic education and international outlook but puts specialists looking to study in the UK at a disadvantage
By The Week Staff Published
-
The class of ‘23: worst off school-leavers yet?
Talking Point The generation who lost critical months of schooling and weren’t able to sit their GCSEs now approaching a dysfunctional university
By The Week Staff Published
-
The UK students taking on universities over Covid disruption
feature Claimants say they received poor service and felt like ‘lowest form of life in food chain’
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
University life in the UK and US compared
feature Studying in the UK offers proximity to home, while US institutions tend to offer broader curriculum options
By The Week Staff Published
-
The pros and cons of going to university
Pros and Cons Record-high costs and competition leave A-level students questioning worth of a degree
By Harriet Marsden Last updated