Reform has been accused of “targeting lawful residents” over plans to scrap loans for foreign students and funding for what the party calls “Mickey Mouse” degrees at “third-rate” universities.
Nigel Farage’s party claim the scheme could help fund a new apprenticeship wage credit for 16-18 year-olds, and an extra 600,000 apprenticeships by the end of its first term.
According to a policy document issued by Reform, this would include ending public subsidies for “woke nonsense like gender studies or critical race theory”.
Universities UK response
Universities UK, which represents universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, pointed out international students aren’t even eligible for loans, and that the plans failed to take into account the financial benefit of international students.
Chief Executive Vivienne Stern MBE told this newspaper: “In England, the Office for Students already has the power to impose recruitment limits on courses which breach certain minimum thresholds for continuation, progression, and completion.
“Universities are joined in the commitment to protect public finances. However, international students are not eligible for UK student finance and they are not getting loans. The students that Braverman is targeting are lawful residents who have settled status to live and work here permanently.
“International students make huge economic and cultural contributions to our campuses, high streets and workplaces, about £62 million per parliamentary constituency. Their fees ensure more opportunity for British students and support the innovative research that happens in towns and cities across the length and breadth of the country.”
Press conference scrutiny
In a press conference on Thursday, Suella Braverman and Richard Tice failed to explain which universities were considered "third-rate", or answer questions around the full costings.
Challenged on student loans funding coming from borrowing, floundering Mr Tice said: "Cash is cash, whether you think that it's a positive on the balance sheet, or a a bank account, or whether you are borrowing it, it's money, it's cash."
Setting out the policy on GCSE results day, Ms Braverman had attacked degrees, and told students: “Don’t get ripped off by the great university scam. Don’t waste your time studying for a pointless degree at a mediocre university.”
Labour Party condemnation
Responding, a Labour Party spokesperson said: “Farage’s top team need to spend a bit more time in the classroom.
“Nobody believes they have young people’s best interests at heart. The Party who wants to see young people’s wages cut, online safeguards stripped away, and workers’ rights ripped up can’t be trusted to deliver a better future for the next generation.”
