Reform UK claims it would renegotiate Brexit deal to stop resident foreign students accessing UK student loan system

I would far rather live in the UK than the US, but each to their own. The UK like, any other country in the world has economic challenges, fuel supply challenges etc, cost of living challenges, introducing risks largely as a result of Trump's actions in Iran putting filed and may other supplies at risk- and consequent price increases.

Defence and national security is becoming increasingly important as a result of such geopolitical tensions and. uncertainty. As a result we rely more than ever on our EU neighbours, particularly at a time Trump denigrates Nato and the UK.

Leaving the EU has damaged the UK economy. Yet we need to align more with the EU on many issues, including defence in the face of Trump's actions and assertions. I fail to see how poking the EU bear seeking to restrict reciprocal EUSS rights will achieve anything much positive- economically or diplomatically.

Edit: thought through not "throat through"

Election gambit, no more, no less.

He can promise what he wants.

He neither will be in a position to deliver nor has been throat through

He's whipping up hatred of "furriners"and it brings just more division and antagonism What do we truly gain from that

as people in the UK need trained younger workers in many fields as the population grows older

Of course all this depends on Reform being the party of Government in a few years time - which praise the Lord won’t happen.

Much better than the US of A.

What's wrong with 'the country we have today'?

Under student loan repayment reforms, the government forecasts that around 56% of full time graduates starting in the 24/25 cohort will pay their loans in full, including all the interest added to the loan, which can be over many years. The repayments are income contingent, meaning graduates only make repayments if they earn above a certain threshold.

The government makes a profit on the interest payments over the years of repayment which helps off set those that don't fully repay. That is the government charges interest at a rate that exceeds the government's borrowing costs.

The government student loan interest rate depends on the plan number when the student began studying. Eg ranging from Pan 1 for older loans, 3.2% (lower of RPI or bank base rate) plus 1%, Plan 2 (post 2012 England and Wales 6.2% RPI + up to 3% etc. Interest rates are updated annually in September based on Retail Price Index, RPI. Thus student loan interest rates are more than High Street banks and the banks make a profit.

The £2 billion sum claimed by Reform is not evidence based. Reform has not said how many EUSS students since Brexit were awarded Student Loans, or how many have been repaying their students with interest compared to how many have not yet paid- in order to work out a positive or negative balance.

It's all a lot of hot air and baloney! Reform promise everything they think the poor people who support them will believe, but they have no intention of doing anything except claiming what they can without doing a single thing to help those who voted for them.
I'm afraid it is a national disease for which there is no cure.

Oreo

4 billion that could be used towards better things?I see nothing wrong with this policy at all.
Loans for students cost a fortune and very many are never paid back even from British students.
Freebies in very many areas are a big part of the draw towards our shores.

It’s not 4 billions? It’s 2 billion.

Will it be spent on the NHS or do we wait for a bus to discover this?

LemonJam

A student loan is not a "freebie' it is a loan.

Getting tougher on those that fail to repay within the rules is a completely different. No one likely to disagree with the principle that repayments should be made as set up within the loan scheme.

The only way these students could avoid paying is to a) leave the country or b) earn too little or nothing.

As only those students already residents here with settlement status already in place and quite probably family and connections, how likely is it that they’ll run off abroad?

On what grounds does Reform base its assertion that this policy will save £2 million per annum- no explanation given....

A student loan is not a "freebie' it is a loan.

Getting tougher on those that fail to repay within the rules is a completely different. No one likely to disagree with the principle that repayments should be made as set up within the loan scheme.

'Charmers' is one word for it WWM2.

Step 1- Reform, if elected to government, will ask the EU politely to change the formal Brexit treaty with regard to The EU Settlement Status Scheme, EUSS. That is a reciprocal settled status scheme for respective former EU and UK residents who emigrated from their respective original EU/UK countries. What is Reform going to offer the EU in return. What message is Reform sending to people born in the UK that have EUSS rights living in say Spain or France? Does Reform not respect their settled rights? Three prizes for guessing the EU's response. What will Reform do if the EU just simply says no to the request for change?

Step 2, and only if and when Reform get that far- they then intend to prevent those with EUSS rights accessing student loans to help fund their university education. That is a LOAN that is subject to repayment, with interest, to become educated at degree level, that may lead to a good job that may benefit UK society.

The EU settlement Status Scheme, EUSS, was launched on 30 March 2019 and the deadline to apply was 30 June 2021. How many students with EUSS rights have completed their 3 year university education and failed to repay their student loan since 2019?

Unless Reform knows the stats and figures of post university EUSS students that have failed to make their repayments there is no evidence that this Reform policy will save any money whatsoever. Just another divisive policy that could harm our relationship with the EU- just when we need it the UK/EU relationship to be strong.

Tolerance has got us the country we have today unfortunately.
If Labour or Conservatives or even Reform were to at last get tough with rules around loans and freebies then it could only be a good thing.
I really fear tho that things have gone much too wrong to ever be righted.

4 billion that could be used towards better things?I see nothing wrong with this policy at all.
Loans for students cost a fortune and very many are never paid back even from British students.
Freebies in very many areas are a big part of the draw towards our shores.

What charmers they are.