LUSU President speaks out about Student Loans on the BBC

LUSU President Rory O’Ceallaigh appeared on BBC News yesterday to discuss the current student loans system and how it is affecting students not only in Lancaster, but nationally.

This was part of a Lobby day, organised by the National Union of Students, where student leaders across England went to London to visit Parliament to discuss the student loan reform with their local MPs.

The student leaders discussed the ongoing student debt crisis, calling for MPs to unfreeze the repayment thresholds. These repayment loans were previously frozen at the Autumn Budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves for Plan 2 loan holders.

Rory spoke to the BBC for the news bulletins at 1pm and 6pm, highlighting how the student loan system is fundamentally broken. After he spoke to them, he said:

"I've highlighted that the loan system is broken, and has been since its conception - it doesn't fund universities properly, and doesn't fund students properly.

I discussed that it's predatory to middle earners who will likely have to pay their whole working lives, likely not even touching the interest that's added on, while high earners, or people who have been lucky enough not to take out a loan, will be able to pay it off quickly or not at all - ultimately costing middle income workers more in the long run.

I asked for a reversal of the repayment limit freeze, and a total review of the student loan system to benefit universities and students."