Andy Burnham has been urged to scrap university tuition fees in England before a new £10,000 cap comes into force in 2027. The prime minister is being challenged to back young people in England, where student debt is spiralling.
Graduate debt in England more than double Scotland
New figures show that graduates in England have more than twice the amount of debt than those in Scotland, where tuition is free for Scottish students. Higher debt levels in England come despite Scottish university courses typically being a year longer, with students taking four years for an honours degree.
Student Loan Company data shows those leaving college or university in Scotland had an average of £21,000 of debt in 2025/26, up from £18,050 the previous year. In England, the average loan balance for graduates was £47,730. While this was down from £53,000 in 2024-25, the average debt of graduates in England was still more than double than in Scotland.
History of tuition fee rises
Tuition fees were just £1,000 when they were introduced by Tony Blair’s government in 1998. They were capped at £3,000 in 2006 and then tripled again to £9,000 in 2012.
Last year, the cap on tuition fees for those studying in England increased to £9,535, which marked the first tuition fee rise in eight years. This then rose again to £9,790 in 2026/27, with a further increase proposed to £10,050 in 2027/28. Next year's rise would mark the first time that fees have risen above £10,000.
Political reactions and government response
Scottish National Party MSP Jack Middleton hit out at Mr Burnham's government, claiming that the planned rise, along with plans to scrap the triple lock promise for pensioners, showed that the government was “going after pensioners and our young people in a pincer movement”.
Mr Middleton said the SNP is “shielding our young people from the Westminster debts being handed out south of the border” by committing to free tuition in Scotland. He insisted: “No matter someone’s financial situation, they should be able to attend university or college without the barrier of ludicrously high tuition fees. In Scotland, the SNP back this principle, it is time for Andy Burnham to back young people and do the same.”
A spokesperson for the UK government said: “We are taking decisive action to improve the student finance system and break down barriers to accessing university, starting with improved and clearer guidance for those taking out loans.
“That includes increasing maximum maintenance loans, reintroducing targeted maintenance grants to expand opportunities for people from all backgrounds, and raised the repayment threshold for Plan 2 loans for the first time since 2021.
“Higher education funding and student support are devolved matters. In England, we will continue to monitor and improve the student loans system to make it fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers in a financially sustainable way.”
Mr Burnham has previously backed the introduction of a graduate tax to replace tuition fees in order to “lift the millstone of debt” from students. He made the comments in 2015 during the Labour leadership contest which was won by Jeremy Corbyn.
Last month, Mr Burnham was accused of “hiking tuition fees to record levels” after analysis from the House of Commons library found undergraduates could owe around £70,000 by the time they finish university if they take the full loan amount, rising to a maximum of £81,000 for those studying in London.
SNP Westminster economy spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman said: “Andy Burnham once promised to follow the SNP’s lead and scrap university tuition fees but instead they are rising to record levels under his leadership.
“It is shocking that, thanks to the Labour Party, thousands of young people beginning university in England this year will start their working lives burdened with £81,000 of debt.
“There is simply no excuse for the fact that tuition fees have risen by a staggering 879 per cent since the Labour Party introduced them – and it means that Andy Burnham is breaking his promises to millions of students and young people.”
She vowed that “university tuition fees in Scotland will always be free under the SNP”.
