Voters sour on increasing tuition fees and university funding

Raising tuition fees in England is the least popular education policy Andy Burnham could adopt, while universities are the lowest priority for government investment, new polling reveals.

The polling of more than 4,000 adults conducted by consultancy Public First found strong support for the prime minister’s flagship policy, of increasing technical and vocational educational routes from age 14.

When asked to choose from pairs of policy options, forcing them to make realistic trade-offs, this was the most popular option across nearly all party-political voting blocks, including Reform UK supporters.

In contrast, increasing tuition fees in line with inflation was the least popular. Voters were split evenly on the prospect of scrapping tuition fees and restoring grant funding for students.

Apprenticeships emerged as the priority policy area for voters, with 37 per cent placing this in their top two priorities for government investment. Again, universities came last, picked by only 14 per cent.

The findings emerged as universities push Labour to follow through on their pledge to legislate to increase tuition fees in line with inflation every year – and as a financial crisis pushes some institutions to the brink of bankruptcy.

Focus groups conducted by Public First suggested that voters supported Burnham’s prioritisation of technical education because it resonated with their belief that the pre-eminence of academic routes was failing to prepare some young people for adult life.

Education was the policy area that voters trusted Burnham the most on, with 55 per cent saying that they did.

However, voters were split on whether the prime minister could deliver on this agenda, with 47 per cent confident that he could and 43 per cent lacking confidence.

Ed Dorrell, a partner at Public First, said it was “remarkable” that voters were so aligned between No 10’s vision in an era of “intense polarisation”.

“From Reform voters to Green voters and even non-voters, we found that there was strong support for a greater emphasis on technical and vocational education in schools and less emphasis on universities,” Dorrell said.

“Education is a genuine strength for Burnham and his government but only if he can deliver change that voters desire. Voters are split on this question.”

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com