Finance campaigner Martin Lewis stormed the set of ITV's Good Morning Britain on Monday to challenge Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch over her party's student loans policy. The Tory plan would cut interest rates for some graduates, but Lewis argued it would only benefit top earners.
During the interview, presenter Ed Balls questioned whether the policy would help only former students in the highest-paying jobs. Badenoch insisted it would not, but Lewis, who had been shouting from off-set, walked into shot and sat on the sofa to contradict her. He stated that lowering the interest rate would only assist those who could clear their debt within 30 years, leaving lower and middle earners unaffected.
The Conservative proposal, announced overnight, would scrap above-inflation interest rate increases on Plan 2 student loans in England for courses started between 2012 and 2022. It would be funded by cutting university courses deemed not to provide 'value for money', potentially including creative arts courses, as suggested by shadow education secretary Laura Trott.
Lewis apologised to Badenoch after the segment, praising her handling of the interruption. He offered to meet to discuss the issue more calmly, which Badenoch accepted, saying she appreciated a 'feisty debate'. The incident highlights growing political consensus that the current student loan system is unworkable, with rising interest rates leaving many graduates with little debt reduction despite high earnings.
