Top Tory minister hints Theresa May is considering U-turn on university tuition fees in bid to lure young voters away from Jeremy Corbyn
First Secretary of State Damian Green said a national debate may be needed on the issue following the government's woeful election performance
THERESA May is considering a sensational U-turn on university tuition fees in a desperate bid to lure young voters away from Jeremy Corbyn, according to a top Tory.
Damian Green, the Prime Minister’s most senior minister, said Britain may need to have a national debate on the issue after the Tories’ woeful general election performance.
Green said the current system, with fees capped at £9,250 a year, allows UK universities to deliver high quality courses and teaching, and accounts for the country's disproportionate number of top institutions.
But the First Secretary of State acknowledged that student debt is a "huge issue", particularly after Labour eroded the government’s majority after promising to scrap university tuition fees.
In his speech to the Bright Blue liberal conservative think tank, Green urged the Tories to "change hard" to woo young, educated voters who backed Labour leader Corbyn on June 8.
He also insisted the only way to bring down tuition fees while maintaining standards would be to put up taxes on working people.
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Asked about his message for students who backed Labour and are angry about being saddled with debt, Green replied: "I think this is clearly a huge issue.
"I think in the long term we've got to show that they are getting value for the money.”
He added: "If you wanted to say you want to reduce that (fees) then either fewer people go to university or the experience would be less.
"Governments have to take money from everyone at work and companies that provide jobs to provide those essential services.
"And it may well be that this is a national debate that we need to have."
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