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Burnham under fire over ‘staggering’ hike in university tuition fees

Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces criticism as English university tuition fees reached £9,790 this year, with the SNP accusing the Labour Party leader of breaking election pledges to scrap fees.
During his 2015 leadership bid, Burnham vowed to "lift the millstone of debt" by replacing fees with a graduate tax; critics note fees have risen by a staggering 879% since 1998.
English graduates in 2025 carried an average debt of £53,010, while Scottish counterparts owed £17,990; students borrowing the maximum loan could owe around £70,000, rising to £81,000 in London.
SNP Westminster economy spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman said Scottish students graduating in 2025 left university with "£35,000 less debt than students in England," contrasting Burnham's leadership with free tuition in Scotland.
The Department for Education said the government is "breaking down barriers to accessing university" by increasing maintenance loans this year, while continuing to seek fairer ways for students and taxpayers.

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Andy Burnham accused of 'staggering' hike in university tuition fees by SNP

Andy Burnham accused of 'staggering' hike in university tuition fees . Andy Burnham has been accused of "hiking tuition fees to record levels" by the Scottish National Party (SNP) as analysis reveals today's English undergraduates have over £50,000 of debt on average

4 hours ago·London, United Kingdom

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