Cameron: Graduate tax would be ‘extremely unfair’
The prime minister David Cameron comments to his press conference ahead of the release of Lord Browne’s report on university funding:
“I think what we need to do is have a system where young people can make choices about what is right for them, and I want as many people who think it’s right for them be able to go to university.
“When you look at participation rates at the moment, if we stay where we are, there is a danger that, when you look at participation from lower income households, you’d be accepting rather a low level of participation.
“Over time I want to see university access expanded.
“In terms of making sure people from poorer homes can go to university this is absolutely vital and any system has got to be able to achieve that.
“There should be a progressive element. I think it’s important we demonstrate this is a progressive approach but we have looked, I have to say, at a pure graduate tax.
“A pure graduate tax is very good for universities, it’s good for American universities, because it would actually drive people to go and study overseas.
“It would also be extremely unfair in terms of European students who wouldn’t be charged the graduate tax when they go back to their own countries.
“We couldn’t make a graduate tax work because it would actually raise the deficit over the next five years significantly because it doesn’t bring in extra money.
“I hope that good and sensible politicians from all parties can get together over Lord Browne’s report.”
