Labour told: Say sorry for student debt U-turn

LABOUR came under fresh pressure over its student debt ‘U-turn’ last night after the Tories demanded an immediate apology from the party’s education spokesman.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner was challenged to say sorry for ditching an Election pledge to wipe out graduate debt.

In the Commons last week, Ms Rayner infuriated Conservatives by appearing to abandon the campaign promise by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to ‘deal’ with existing student debt and reduce it.

The promise, along with a pledge to scrap tuition fees in England and Wales, was seen as a huge vote-winner for Labour. But Ms Rayner, seen as a future party leader by Labour colleagues, said ‘we have no plans to write off existing student debt’ and claimed ‘we never promised to do so’.

In a letter to her yesterday, Westminster Education Secretary Justine Greening called on her to apologise for abandoning a ‘clear commitment to reduce the debts of millions of people’.

She wrote: ‘In pretending the Labour Party never intended to clear student debt, you are further misleading those who put their faith in you.’

Ms Greening also challenged Ms Rayner to say what steps her party took during the Election campaign to ‘rectify’ the false impression given by Mr Corbyn to young voters.

The Education Secretary concluded: ‘Given your party leader has campaigned under the banner of “straight-talking honest politics”, I look forward to your imminent apology and clarification.’

A Labour source said last night: ‘Jeremy said he was looking at ways to ease the debt burden, though repeatedly made it clear we had no specific proposals on the issue.’