Kemi Badenoch faced a surprise challenge on live TV today regarding her proposal to ease the burden of student loan repayments for graduates in financial distress.
During her appearance on Good Morning Britain, the Conservative Party leader found herself under pressure from Ed Balls and Martin Lewis, who engaged her in a heated discussion.
Former Labour minister Ed Balls questioned her about her initiative to eliminate 100,000 university places deemed low quality and redirect the savings towards lowering the high interest rates on student loans.
In the midst of their conversation, Martin Lewis, known for his Money Saving Expert brand, unexpectedly joined the set, pressing Badenoch on the necessity of raising the income threshold for loan repayments.
Both Lewis and Balls continued to speak over her, leaving Badenoch struggling to make her point.
She eventually responded, saying, “If you want us to have a debate, I’m more than willing. However, it’s important for people to hear my perspective. You’re both talking over me; please allow me to clarify my policy.”
After receiving a quiet apology from Mr Balls she went on: ‘I want to make sure that those young people who are paying and paying and their debt is not going down get a relief. If you think there is a better offer, let’s look at it.’
She added that Rachel Reeves freezing the thresholds meant ‘the whole student loan system is not working properly and someone has to do something’, adding: ‘The thing that shocks me is that the minute I say ”well lets do something’ everyone says ‘ah well no, no ,no, this is not right”. We are going round in circles.’
Anger has been growing at the huge interest rates on so-called ‘Plan B’ loans, with many former students highlighting that their debt is rising despite being in good jobs.
The Conservative Party leader was caught in a mansplaining pincer movement by Ed Balls and Martin Lewis as she appeared on Good Morning Britain
While she was being questions by Mr Balls, Mr Lewis bounded unannounced onto the set and began haranguing her increasing the salary threshold at which repayments start
Interest on Plan 2 loans is charged at the rate of RPI inflation plus up to 3 per cent, depending on how much a graduate earns.
The issue has been fuelled by Rachel Reeves announcing at the November Budget that the salary thresholds at which repayments kick in are being frozen at £29,385 for three years.
The Conservatives said they would restrict the rate to RPI only to help higher numbers of graduates pay off their debt.
When Mrs Badenoch raised this point on GMB Mr Lewis said lowering the rate now ‘will only help those who can clear (their debt) within the 30 years which means lower and middle earning graduates wont benefit from that change’.
‘If you have a billion pounds to help students, the most direct thing that would help all students would be not freezing the repayment threshold, it would be increasing the repayment threshold. While the interest rate is psychologically damaging, I absolutely agree with you, it is really damaging for many people watching…’
Mrs Badenoch interrupted saying: ‘I just don’t think this is fair on young people. I’m sorry Martin, I strongly disagree.
‘Many of these young people have gone to university and taken out courses that were not worth the money, that’s why we’re also talking about apprenticeships. I also did an apprenticeship, I remember more about the apprenticeship than I do the two degrees, so I’m speaking from experience.
‘I did an apprenticeship, I had two degrees, I paid off student loans, I know what it’s like an I think this is the best thing. We have got to start reforming the system and making it better.
‘We can have an argument about the technical details but this is about the principle. What is happening right now is wrong and someone needs to fix it – Conservatives are the only party who have an answer.’
The party also wants to cut the number of university entrants by 100,000, which they say would save the Government £3.6billion, and fund the same number of extra apprenticeships for 18 to 21-year-olds, as part of a ‘new deal for young people’.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson squirmed yesterday as she was grilled on the situation, insisting she will ‘look’ at the arrangements.
Appearing on Sky News this morning, Ms Phillipson said she ‘recognises the challenges that are there’ but stopped short of giving any commitments.
She added on the BBC: ‘It is really difficult and we will continue to keep under review ways in which we can make it better.’
