The PM wants to provide a discount for Europeans studying at UK universities, but guess who pays
Andy Burnham is said to have his ‘priorities all wrong’ (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has been accused of putting foreign students ahead of Brits as Tories launched a furious attack on plans to cut fees for EU citizens at UK universities. The Prime Minister’s plan to cosy up to the EU, designed to pave the way for a new trade deal, is expected to cost £450million in lost tuition fee income.
But it comes as the Labour Government pushes up student fee repayments by £400million for UK graduates. Conservative Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said: “Politics is about priorities, and English students are bottom of the list for Andy Burnham.
“All Labour have done since getting into power is make the student loan system worse by freezing thresholds. The PM could have fixed this at the Budget but instead he wants to give almost the same amount of money to the EU, to cut university fees for EU students.
“His priorities are all wrong.”
Mr Burnham is considering cutting fees for EU students from £38,000 to as low as £9,535, so that they pay the same as UK undergraduates.
It would be part of a deal to be agreed at a summit on November 20, which would significantly cut red tape on UK food exports to EU nations.
The cost is estimated at £450million annually. But at the same time, Labour has increased repayments for many English and Welsh graduates by freezing repayment thresholds for student loan schemes.
Watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility says the move, which affects people on “plan 2” payment schemes, will raise an extra £400million every year.
The UK-EU deal is also expected to mean the UK stops sending foreign national prisoners to the EU, and to include a “Youth Experience” scheme allowing freedom of movement for younger people.
It was condemned as “a re-subjugation to European lawmakers” by veteran Tory MP Sir Bill Cash. He told GB News: “It really crosses the boundaries of sovereignty, and this is in fact a racket.”
Mr Burnham argues his trade deal could add 0.4% to the UK economy. In an interview this week, he said: “I have the opportunity to add to UK growth … I think people in Britain would expect me to take that with both hands.
“If that can get growth, if that can help our farmers, if that can remove red tape from British businesses, I think most people would expect me to go to that summit and negotiate the best deal that I can.”