Student Loans

Graham Stringer Excerpts
Wednesday 18th March 2026

(1 day, 11 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Laura Trott Portrait Laura Trott
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My hon. Friend is, as ever, absolutely right. Opportunity should be created for young people here, not in other countries, and that is what we want to create.

Graham Stringer Portrait Graham Stringer (Blackley and Middleton South) (Lab)
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It is a long time since I went to university, but there was a belief then that the least important things we got out of it were degrees and job prospects. There was a value in education itself. The right hon. Lady seems to think that the only reason to go to university is mercenary.

Laura Trott Portrait Laura Trott
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It seems like the hon. Gentleman was at university only yesterday. If we are asking young people to take on a mountain of debt, it is important for them to know that they will get a job and have prospects afterwards. I do not think that is an unreasonable proposition, and it is one that I will argue for.