Reform UK proposes tax rebates for firms to boost apprenticeships

Suella Braverman, the former UK Home Secretary and Conservative MP for Fareham, warned university‑bound students that they risk “being ripped off by the great university scam” during a briefing on higher‑education finance held at the House of Commons on Tuesday. Speaking to a group of prospective undergraduates and their families, Braverman highlighted the steep rise in tuition fees and associated living costs, arguing that many institutions charge fees that outpace the value of the qualifications they confer. She urged students to scrutinise fee structures, compare graduate‑employment outcomes and consider alternative pathways such as apprenticeships or vocational training.

The remarks have prompted responses from university representatives and student unions, who contend that the sector provides essential academic and research services and that fee levels are set in line with government policy. The Department for Education has not indicated any immediate policy shift, but the comment adds to ongoing debate over tuition‑fee reform and the affordability of higher education for young people across the United Kingdom.