Much like normal life, there are some things that can't be avoided when living the student life. To name but a few, these include hangovers, deadlines and, most dreaded of all, debt. That pristine piece of paper in your hand certifying your 2:1 degree in the field of International Spa Management can't save you from the horror that is student debt.
But from the depths of despair rose a hero of the people, a man determined to save the young from the tyranny of student debt. This titan of a figure would bring joy to all, and unite the country under his banner. Jeremy 'Chairman' Corbyn, as the General Election of June 2017 loomed, was 'looking at ways' to bring down debt and abolish the hardship of tuition fees.
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| All Power to the Chairman |
To give a rough estimate, around 63% of 18 to 34-year-olds voted for a government led by the humble Chairman, yet the Conservatives held on with their majority cut down significantly. Young people loved the thought of a more affordable route to and from Higher Education. Degrees for everyone!
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| You get a degree, you get a degree! |
However, in the last week or so, Jeremy has run into a spot of bother about his stance over the issue of tuition fees and student debt. In an interview with Andrew Marr last Sunday, Mr Corbyn said that he never did make a commitment to wiping off student debt. This, in typical fashion, made everyone go crazy.
Lord Alan Sugar (once a peer of the Labour party) called on Jeremy to resign as he had 'lied... to get votes from young impressionable people'. Various news outlets ran the story over Corbyn's betrayal and the Tories launched numerous attacks on their left leaning counterparts. Chancellor Philip Hammond called it a 'broken promise... Labour aren't being straight with the British public'.
So did the beloved socialist lie to the public? Were we swept up in the euphoria of reduced university costs? If so, does that mean that I must delete all the photoshopped pictures of Jeremy Corbyn off my laptop and find a new politician to fall in love with?
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| He has ultimate power... over my heart |
As a man who likes his research, I did some reading and have reached this conclusion; Jeremy said he would DEAL with the burden, not solve it. Labour's manifesto talks about abolishing tuition fees (which rose when the Conservatives came to power in 2010) and addressing the 'fear of debt'. When the Prime Minister calls a surprise election, it would be an incredible feat to write up a perfect plan to make university affordable for all.
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| Look, here's some proof |
Jeremy's interview with NME in the run up to the election also brought light to his planned campaign on fees and debt. To those already under the thumb of debt (I write as I wipe a tear from my eye), Labour would find ways to reduce the burden, such as 'lengthen the period of paying it off'. A step in the right direction, I suppose.
So what can we take away from all of this? First of all, I could keep going and bore you all to death; there are a lot of interviews and articles I could mention. Second of all, the fact that the Tories are jumping on the bandwagon means they are looking to chip away at Labour's armour. Their majority has been cut, and Theresa needs to watch herself in order to stay afloat until 2022.
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| No time for breaks Theresa, you have a country to run |
Both sides have time now. Theresa can have a sit down and think up ways to get the young back on their side. Corbyn now needs to show us all that he wasn't lying, and set out a system that removes tuition fees and student debts without screwing the budget over. Not an easy thing to do, but let's see how this pans out.
If you want some more election ramblings, click on this here link https://absosham.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/i-have-fever-and-only-voting-will-cure.html
Have a good read through some of the others as well, I thought they were good. My Dad liked the Plymouth one last week, so that's a win really.
Right, that's enough about debt for one day. Enjoy your Sundays everyone!
Ben G xo 😁
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