The prospect of university tuition fees passing the £10,000 threshold in this parliament will not put a song in the heart of Labour MPs desperate for some good news stories. Nevertheless, the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, had little choice but to announce on Monday that the price of a degree will be allowed to rise in line with inflation from 2026. The eight-year freeze on annual fees, before Ms Phillipson permitted a small uplift to £9,535 last year, was a major factor in the huge funding crisis that now engulfs higher education.
Less understandable is that what was given with one departmental hand is set to be taken back by another. Unveiling her post-16 education and skills white paper, Ms Phillipson also confirmed a Home Office plan to introduce a levy on fees paid by international students studying at UK institutions. As the chief executive of Universities UK, Vivienne Stern, told the House of Commons education committee on Tuesday, the negative impact of this proposed surcharge would more than cancel out increased revenues from domestic fees.
