Most readers of this forum would have been educated when university education was free. Most users of this forum went to university, did you ForestHillier? So students today are entitled to ask why they should pay for they education when all the government ministers and most of the shadow cabinet paid nothing for their university education.

Then there is the fact that graduates earn more than non-graduates. If the average graduate earns an extra £10k per year over a working life of 40 years, and this income is taxed at 30% (income + NI, not counting higher rate tax), then they are paying an extra £120k in tax over their working life, more than enough to compensate the state for the cost of their education. Some earn more than others, but the lowest paid graduates work in teaching, nursing, and other state funded jobs, it is a double saving. For students going into the private sector in particular, they are helping to boost the GDP of this country much more than most non-graduates.

The sad fact of any of these schemes is that, contrary to what politicians of all colours tell us, the cost of a degree does put people off going to university. Every time the cost of education increases we lose a bit of fairness in Society. But at least Vince Cable has abandoned the stupidest plan for university funding - the graduate tax. All fees/loans must be paid off eventually.

The best method of paying for universities is a few pence on higher rate of taxation.