Andy Burnham is considering demands from Brussels to slash tuition fees paid by EU students at British universities, ahead of a delayed UK-EU summit scheduled for October. The meeting was initially planned with former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and is expected to sign off on a series of deals intended to reset post-Brexit relations.
Fee reduction plan
Alongside changes to food and drink regulations, the deal will include a youth mobility scheme that would grant up to 100,000 EU nationals the right to work, live and study in Britain. Brussels has reportedly made reducing tuition fees for EU students a central part of the agreement.
At present, EU students in the UK pay up to £38,000 per year for a degree. Under the plan, this would be cut to £9,535, in line with fees charged to British undergraduates.
Conservative criticism
Conservative shadow education minister Laura Trott described the plan as "madness" and said the Government's "priorities are all wrong". She added: "We should be cutting the cost of university for British students, not those from the EU.
"Andy Burnham should be focused on improving opportunities for students at home, who are too often funnelled into university only to leave saddled with enormous debt and no job prospects, not cutting costs for foreign students."
Political context
The Conservative Party recently announced plans to scrap some interest on student loans and double apprenticeships. Mr Burnham, who last year said "Long-term, I'm going to be honest, I'm going to say it, I want to rejoin [the EU]", changed his position when running for the pro-Brexit Makerfield seat this June.
When challenged by the Daily Express on the topic, the then mayor of Greater Manchester ran away. Later in the election, he said he "respected" the vote to leave and was "not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU".
University and political reactions
Universities have warned that bowing to the demand risks increasing strains on their already tight budgets due to a loss of income. Earlier this year, Sir Keir's Europe minister Nick Thomas-Symonds urged the UK to reach a deal with the bloc to "protect our continent's economy".
Labour MP Andrew Lewin, chairman of the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission, called on Mr Burnham to agree to a youth mobility deal. He told The i Paper that Downing Street should "run towards an opportunity" so "we can make good on the promise of allowing 18-30 year olds to travel freely across the European Union".
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We are building an ambitious, close relationship with the EU that will strengthen our economy and unlock growth in every postcode."
