George Galloway speaks to NUS President Aaron Porter

From BBC News:

The government plans to increase the salary at which graduates in England start to repay their tuition fees from £15,000 to £21,000.

This has emerged ahead of the long-awaited publication of Lord Browne's review of higher education funding.

He is expected to recommend allowing universities to charge unlimited fees, but with measures to limit fees of more than about £6,000 to £7,000.

Ministers also plan to increase grants and loans for poorer students.

The government is also considering asking all but the poorest graduates in England to pay a higher rate of interest on their student loans.

Currently all graduates pay a low interest rate, linked to the base rate, on their tuition fee and maintenance loans.

The review, by former BP chief Lord Browne, is due to publish its recommendations on Tuesday.

But as the Liberal Democrats campaigned in the election against fee rises - and all the party's MPs have signed a pledge to oppose them - ministers have been trying to reach a compromise that will be progressive enough to secure their backing.

The two sides are thought not to have reached a deal yet.

With a nod to this, Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters at Downing Street on Monday the issue was "very difficult" for the coalition.

He said: "Everybody has to compromise because the truth is that we all want the same thing."

He added: "The work that has been done by Vince Cable and David Willetts and others is so good that we hope we will all be able to sign up to getting a bold and radical reform of university finance."

Mr Cable, the Business Secretary and responsible for higher education in England, outlined his response at what was described as a productive and constructive meeting of Lib Dem MPs on Monday.

There was no sign of full-scale rebellion, but a handful of those present indicated they may vote against the proposals when they come before Parliament in a few weeks, reported BBC political correspondent Mike Sergeant.

Ministers have moved towards charging most graduates a flat rate of interest on their loans, with only graduates on low salaries enjoying a lower rate.

The threshold for paying the money back would be raised from the current level of £15,000 to £21,000.

Currently graduates who took loans out after 1998 pay interest rates of 1.5% - but this was only introduced this September - the previous year it was fixed at 0% for that year.

It is also expected that there would also be pressure on universities to provide more bursaries.

Lord Browne's review is expected to recommend scrapping the upper limit on tuition fees in England.

Universities would be able to keep all of tuition fees up to about £6,000 or £7,000, but beyond that point they would only be able to keep a diminishing proportion of the fee paid by students.

This would mean more than doubling the current tuition fee of £3,290. And if the major cuts expected in the comprehensive spending review go ahead - it could mean few extra resources for a struggling university sector.

Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE which represents some universities said: "Not all higher education institutions will be able to charge more for many of their courses.

"Lifting the cap on fees could be very damaging for them if coupled with across the board cuts in public funding for certain subjects."

Lord Browne's review of fees relates only to England but its recommendations will be watched closely by university vice-chancellors in the other nations who are facing the same funding conundrum.

No UK student has to pay their fees up front - instead, the university is paid directly from the public purse, and the student pays the loan back after graduation.

Scottish students studying in Scotland do not have to pay any fees.

In the other nations, students take out loans to cover their costs, in Wales these are subsidised to a degree by the Welsh Assembly depending on income.

George Galloway interviews National Union of Students President Aaron Porter on the ConDem government lifting the cap on tuition fees.

Originally broadcasted on 11th October 2010.

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[taldari]

Due to maintenance problems yesterday, I could not put up my description. It is up now.

[hhwha1]

Porter is actually quite on the money here. Shame he sold out and became a government stooge who did everything in his power to bring down the student movement.

[7jem331]

@Summerbkh Oh and in case anyone thinks I am some "Moaning student" I actually left University years ago at a time when it was actually free. I just happen to see many people now loaded down with debt for the rest of their lives having 200 or more quid a month taken out of their pay packet. Seeing people now telling sons and daughters "Sorry I just cant afford to send you to University"

[Summerbkh]

@triwillb totally agree with you !

[Summerbkh]

@7jem331 Brilliant point, I didn't know that the interest accrued whilst waiting for a job- that's just disgusting!

It's slavery to the bank masters- zionism has bourne it's fruits for the elites, this has to be stopped!

[Summerbkh]

Who are the beneficiaries of the fees? the banks- they get the interest from students' fee repayments.

If a student wants to pay back early (to avoid the interest) they will have a penalty levied against them whereas, the wealthy will incure no charges at all if they pay upfront!

Bankers bonuses and low corperation tax is fine!

Micheal Moore was right in- Capitalism: A Love Story. It makes me sick what they are doing to ordinary people to enrich the few.

[7jem331]

What they dont tell people about student loans is that until you do get this mythical 21,000 a year job the interest is still adding up on the loan so either you work for the rest of your life for under 21,000 (In spite of inflation etc) Or you spend years looking for a job then get wacked with the interest payments on student loans. You hear of peole leaving 25,000 in debt add the interest to this and its just a licence to print money.

[ousamadidndoit]

@MrGilles1990 hey there you son of a thousand fathers, is that how you spell Osama...well your fucking wrong you prick its actually spelt USAMA...big man behind his mothers pc...come say it too my face you cunt!

[MrGilles1990]

@ousamadidndoit you can't even spell Osama proves the intellectual levels of those nerds living in their mothers basements are low.

Get a life!

[ousamadidndoit]

Lost all respect for GG...the fool still thinks Binladen did 9/11...regardless of all the evidence, he wont even entertain any ideas against the "Official theory" so a big FUCK YOU GG

[codelocator]

Aaron Porter is a slimy establishment stooge. Not to be trusted in the slightest.