Tom Swarbrick Grills Minister Who Says Student Loan Is "Not Real Debt"

16 August 2018, 13:14

Tom Swarbrick had some tough questions for the Education Minister after he said student loan is "not real debt".

Universities have a large number of places available through clearing this year and Nick Gibb said that youngsters should not be put off going to university as it's a small amount of money.

He said: "We want more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to do what's right for them and not be put off by student debt, which is not real debt."

But Tom told him: "But a lot of people will be put off by the fees that are being increased and for a lot of people, this is a massive amount of money coming out of their paycheque.

"For people that just creep over that threshold, it is quite a lot of money."

Tom Swarbrick in the LBC studio
Tom Swarbrick in the LBC studio. Picture: LBC

Mr Gibb responded: "Say you're earning £30,000 as a starting salary - which is very unusual - it's 9% of that difference of £5,000, which is £450 a year, so these are not huge sums of money to be paying back out of the paypacket.

"We have statistics that show that over the course of their career, graduates earn £100,000 more than non-graduates, so it is financially-viable."

More Tom Swarbrick

See more More Tom Swarbrick

Exclusive
British troops could be stationed in Ukraine, a Trump ally has said.

Trump's counter-terrorism chief says British troops could be stationed in Ukraine if ceasefire is agreed

Exclusive
Richard Tice thinks Reform "has the momentum" to challenge at the next election.

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice says 'hundreds of thousands' could lose jobs due to Labour's 'appalling' Budget

Exclusive
The terror watchdog was speaking to LBC's Tom Swarbrick

Terror watchdog warns hostile nations could use 'ordinary Brits' to 'carry out acts of sabotage'

Exclusive
Robert Jenrick Launches His Bid To Be The Next Conservative Party Leader

Social housing should be focused on ‘people who have been here for a long time’, Robert Jenrick tells LBC

Tom Swarbrick speak to Jonathan Dekel-Chen

Israeli hostage's father tells LBC Benjamin Netanyahu must 'negotiate with Satan' to bring hostages home

Exclusive
One child strip searched every 14 hours report reveals, as minister admits police searches 'taking place in chicken shops'

One child strip searched every 14 hours as commissioner says police searches 'taking place in chicken shops'

Nigel Farage waded into the row between Keir Starmer and Elon musk

'I pray he's wrong': Nigel Farage tells LBC following Elon Musk's claim 'civil war is inevitable' in Britain

Exclusive
Nigel Farage has refused to apologise after making the comments after the stabbing attack in Southport

Nigel Farage refuses to apologise over claims made about Southport attacker being known to police

Exclusive
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson has told LBC that courts could sit through the night to bring “speedy justice” to those taking part in violent demonstration

Courts could sit through night to bring 'speedy justice' to violent protesters, policing minister tells LBC

Exclusive
A sister has described the moment she punched a crocodile to save her sister.

'I wasn't going to leave her behind': Twin recalls punching crocodile to save sister

Exclusive
Susan Hall has dismissed Ed Miliband's claim that she would be an 'embarrassment' to Britain as the next London mayor.

Susan Hall dismisses as 'nonsense’ after Ed Miliband said she would be an ‘embarrassment’ as London Mayor

Exclusive
UK should prepare for 'something close to war', Nato's deputy tells LBC, amid warning members have 'neglected defence'

UK should prepare for 'something close to war', Nato's Deputy General tells LBC, as he warns Russia 'cannot be trusted'

Emma Webber (left) speaking to LBC

Mother of Nottingham attack victim Barnaby Webber blasts police ‘mistruths’ after force is put in special measures

Lord Harrington said there should be a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes.

Former refugees minister Lord Harrington calls for a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes

Mel Stride has backed the PM

Rishi Sunak has 'absolutely not' betrayed nation over Rwanda plan, insists minister after Braverman's attack on PM

Tom and caller

'Our family is there': Mother shares heartbreaking experience of being a British Jew during Israel-Hamas conflict