Andy Burnham is ready to slash uni fees for EU students – but only if Brussels coughs up major trade perks in return, The i Paper can reveal.
EU chiefs have been pushing Britain for years to drop tuition costs for young Europeans as part of a new under‑30s mobility deal that would also unlock huge agreements on food, drink and energy. But the UK has dug its heels in, with universities warning cheaper fees would blow a massive hole in their already cash‑strapped budgets. EU students currently face international fees of up to £38,000, instead of the £9,790 home rate.
Now insiders say Burnham – along with his new EU point man Hamish Falconer – is open to cutting fees, but only as part of a “big‑bang bargain” that hands Britain far better trading terms with the bloc.
Article on i Paper