Keir Starmer drops Labour’s free university tuition pledge

Opposition leader says commitment to abolish fees is now unaffordable and he cares more about ‘growing the economy’ than raising taxes

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Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that he is set to U-turn on his pledge to abolish university tuition fees.

The Labour leader admitted he is “likely to move on from that commitment”, arguing it is now unaffordable because of the economic situation.

He also played down suggestions that he would increase income tax on top earners, and raise the level of capital gains tax.

His remarks will anger Left-wing MPs and activists who have accused him of abandoning the socialist platform he used to win the leadership.

Sir Keir unveiled 10 pledges when he stood to replace Jeremy Corbyn at the top of the party in early 2020.

In his second commitment, titled “social justice”, he promised to “support the abolition of tuition fees and invest in lifelong learning”.

‘The current system is unfair’

Asked on Tuesday whether he still stood by that, he told the BBC: “We are likely to move on from that commitment because we do find ourselves in a different financial situation.”

The Labour leader insisted that the comment should not be “read as us accepting for a moment that the current system is fair or that it is working”.

Vowing to “set out a fairer solution” in the coming weeks, he added: “We are looking at options for how we fund these fees.

“The current system is unfair, it doesn’t really work for students, doesn’t work for universities.” 

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Asked why he does not want to increase income tax for the top 5 per cent of earners or reform capital gains tax so that it matches the top rate of income tax, Sir Keir replied: “We have the highest tax burden since the Second World War. What we have had from the Government is tax rise upon tax rise upon tax rise.

“If they have proved one thing it is that their high tax, low growth economy doesn’t work.”

Asked if “taxing wealthier people does not work”, the Labour leader replied: “A high tax, low growth model doesn’t work, it is busted.”

He went on: “We have got to grow the economy. I accept that I am giving you a different answer to previous Labour leaders which would always go straight and spend; my central focus is growing the economy.”

Labour has promised to ensure every policy is fully funded and has said it will only borrow money for investment to meet future challenges like climate change.

When he was standing for the leadership, Sir Keir said: “Labour must stand by its commitment to end the national scandal of spiraling student debt and abolish tuition fees.

“We lost the election, but we did not lose our values or determination to tackle the injustice facing young people going to university.

“Under the Tories, tuition fees have tripled and young people are leaving university with nearly £60,000 worth of debt.

“Let’s be blunt: we need to end the scandal of spiraling student debt.”

His about-turn was immediately criticised by Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who now sits as an independent.

“Young people should not be saddled with a lifetime of debt just because they want to get an education,” he said.

“Abolish tuition fees, restore maintenance grants and deliver free education for all.”

Previous about turns

It is not the first time Sir Keir has abandoned a pledge he made during the Labour leadership race, angering activists on the Left.

He has also ditched commitments to nationalise utility companies and scrap Universal Credit.

In February, the Labour leader defended moving on from the pledges made three years ago, but defended them as “important statements of value and principle”.

He said: “What I’ve had to do is obviously adapt some of them to the circumstances we find ourselves in. Since I ran for leader, we’ve had Covid.

“Since I ran for leader, we’ve had the conflict in Ukraine. Since I ran for leader, we’ve had a government that’s done huge damage to our economy.”

He has now replaced them with “five missions for a better Britain”, which will be the platform on which he fights the next election.

They are securing the highest growth in the G7, becoming a clean energy superpower, building an NHS fit for the future, making streets safe and breaking down barriers to opportunity.

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