Cherie Blair praises free university education
Cherie Blair has admitted that if she had not received a free university education, she would not now have pursued a career in law.
She told barrister’s magazine Counsel: “The truth is, if I hadn’t had the funding from the state to go to university, I would have worked in a shop.”
Mrs Blair also said she had benefited from a local authority grant that helped her study for her bar course, as well as a legal scholarship.
Her comments as the prime minister introduces top up fees of up to £3,000 per year for university students in England.
However, a Downing Street spokesman insisted Mrs Blair’s comments did not contradict government policy.
“Mrs Blair has often supported tuition fees when talking to school groups and sixth formers, because the new arrangements have re-introduced maintenance grants for poorer students and a cap on fees,” he said.
