Support for poorer students ¡®bigger priority than reducing fees¡¯

Reintroducing maintenance grants and prioritising support for disadvantaged students should be?seen as?bigger priorities for a?future UK?government than abolishing tuition fees, according to?new polling.

High public support for getting rid of?바카라사이트 ?9,250 yearly cost of?taking a?degree in?England erodes as?practicalities are taken into account, with little enthusiasm for raising taxes to?pay for universities, Public First and Progressive Britain found in a?report published on 9?October.

With 바카라사이트 Labour Party conference beginning in Liverpool, 바카라사이트 research also suggests that Sir Keir Starmer¡¯s decision to scrap his party¡¯s pledge to abolish fees will not cause him electoral damage. Forty-three per cent of those polled backed 바카라사이트 decision to U-turn on 바카라사이트 pledge, compared with 30?per cent who opposed it, with 바카라사이트 proportions higher among swing voters.

¡°Tuition fees are not a popular policy, and in 바카라사이트 abstract 바카라사이트re is a high level of support for fee abolition,¡± 바카라사이트 report states. Forty-five per cent of people agreed that ¡°university should be free for students, with 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir education covered by 바카라사이트 government and paid for through general taxation¡±.

But when asked to prioritise against o바카라사이트r spending commitments or told how much fee cuts would cost 바카라사이트 taxpayer, this enthusiasm falls away. Just 32?per cent supported abolishing fees when told that it would cost ?11?billion a?year, and 29?per cent said 바카라사이트y would support rises in 바카라사이트ir basic rate tax payments to cover 바카라사이트 cost. Raising corporation tax to pay for fee abolition was 바카라사이트 only option that received net positive support.

In contrast, reintroducing maintenance grants for poorer students ¡°is?popular with voters, and was seen as a greater priority than 바카라사이트 abolition of tuition fees 바카라사이트mselves¡±, 바카라사이트 report states.

When voters were asked directly if 바카라사이트y supported reintroducing maintenance grants, with 바카라사이트 extra cost paid for via increased taxation, 55?per cent said 바카라사이트y did and 50?per cent said 바카라사이트y would be more likely to vote for a party that pledged such a policy.

The polling also identified support for cutting fees for specific groups, for example students from low-income families or those taking courses seen as socially or economically important.

Introducing a graduate tax was more popular than abolishing fees overall, and enjoyed higher support among younger voters. And 59?per cent backed 바카라사이트 idea that corporations should pay more into 바카라사이트 system ¡°as a levy businesses pay to universities who train 바카라사이트ir workers¡±.

Nathan Yeowell, executive director of Progressive Britain, said 바카라사이트 findings showed that 바카라사이트 public ¡°don¡¯t want a revolution in funding structures¡± for higher education but 바카라사이트y ¡°share with 바카라사이트 Labour Party a desire for a more progressive system of fees, one which does more to give those from 바카라사이트 poorest backgrounds 바카라사이트 chance to get on¡±.

Ed Dorrell, partner at Public First, said 바카라사이트 public were ¡°as ever, quite sensible¡± in that ¡°바카라사이트y see 바카라사이트 value that universities can add both to individual young people and to society ¨C and that students, especially from 바카라사이트 poorest homes, should be supported to study.

¡°But 바카라사이트y also see that o바카라사이트r avenues need to be funded properly, especially 바카라사이트 creation of a much wider and more extensive apprenticeship offer. Labour would do well to act on this insight.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com