I voted labour as you'll well know but this is one of the policies I disagreed with believe it or not. I think it's quite unfair that people who decide against further education for whatever reason should foot the bill for those who are effectively going into it for self gain.

We're the Arthur over ere!

I went to university and graduated in 2009. I pay 10% of my salary above 20kish back to the student loan company. To me, this seems fair enough. I fi never earn above £20k, then I don't pay back a penny so don't get why people get so upset over student loans.

Also, coming from a modest yet normal background (Mum was a teacher and Dad a fireman), I received zero maintenance grants (help towards food etc- accommodation is covered by the loan) at university. People who came from low income got loads of grants. This meant that to get the same money, I had to work part time at M and S and Ninian Park while they sat on their arses!

So in summary, current situation is fine and actually favours low income family students over normal income ones!!

Nothing has changed comrade. The right of the party are still desperately putting various parts of their body in their mouths, or someone else's, to keep schtum about their true feelings.
You know those weasel Labour politicians will endure almost anything for their two Jags.

Will they hold the pretense together long enough for the next election I wonder.

Popcorn at the ready.

I have to hand it to you Nick.
You take double standards to levels that would shame even the most liberal liberal.

Who's to say going out and experiencing work from a young age isn't as valuable to some intellectually and practically as a university education would be. I know people who've gone to Uni and pretty much got slaughtered for 3 years, got a degree in a subject that's ended up being completely irrelevant to their new found career as a recruitment consultant. I think primary school fees and uni tuition fees are a comprehensively different argument.

We're the Arthur over ere!

i.e. that he is not a Tory and not Teri May.

"Everything is air-droppable at least once."

"When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support."

I am all for apprenticeships. And of course the UK is so very good at implementing them.

Don't know if you have noticed, there aren't many jobs out there for young people that are in the slightest part developmental. Believe me I know.

Nowadays most good jobs require very deep specialisms. Modern world innit.

EFA.

But I understand Lord Bucket Head refused to appear on Woman's hour.

"Everything is air-droppable at least once."

"When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support."

Fees are all very well but...

It costs as much to collect them as it would cost to provide the tuition free.

and

The levels are huge.

At the end of your studies you owe a minimum of £45k and it's ever increasing. This puts a huge pressure on people and if they don't have the bank of mum and dad behind them they are less and less likely to take the risk. We don't have an industrial base either so we have few options for the less qualified.

Those people who do have bank of mum and dad get on, leaving all others behind. We end up with a huge gulf between the haves and have nots. And indeed, that is what is happening. Look at the stats. So little wonder we have many disillusioned young people.

Why is this just out of interest? Admittedly not that educated on the subject as I didn't go to uni, just thinking out loud RE the practicality of free tuition fees I suppose.

We're the Arthur over ere!