Andy Burnham faces criticism over rising UK university tuition fees

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing criticism over rising university tuition fees in England, which have increased by 879% since their introduction in 1998. Current fees for English universities are set at £9,790 per year, up from the £1,000 charge implemented by Tony Blair’s government.

Research from the House of Commons library indicates that undergraduates may face total debts of approximately £70,000 upon completion, with costs potentially reaching £81,000 for those studying in London. For the 2025 graduating class in England, the average debt was reported at £53,010. In contrast, the average debt for Scottish graduates was significantly lower at £17,990, as tuition remains free for students in Scotland.

Critics, including SNP Westminster economy spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman, have accused the Prime Minister of breaking previous campaign promises. During the 2015 Labour leadership contest, Burnham had pledged to replace tuition fees with a graduate tax to alleviate student debt. Blackman noted the stark difference between the financial burden on English students and the free tuition model maintained by the SNP in Scotland.