Darren Paffey

Darren Paffey

Labour — Southampton Itchen

Speaking in the House of Commons on 28 October 2026

Debate

Higher Education Funding

Contribution

My hon. Friend makes an absolutely salient point. Many of us never imagined that we would get to an even worse place, but here we are. Only the top three earnings deciles of recent intakes will ever pay off their student loans in full. The nurse, the teacher or the engineer on £35,000 will pay 9% for decades and still never clear the balance. Dare I say it, but if it walks like a tax and quacks like a tax, let us call it a tax and treat it as one. If we properly sort it, it could well be a better deal than the current loan system.

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