Tories would scrap ‘debt trap’ of high interest student loans, says Kemi Badenoch

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson suggests priority is grants for poorer students rather than cutting interest

Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives would scrap the unfair debt trap" of high interest rates on student loans, piling pressure on Labour ministers to tackle the growing outrage over the high costs.

The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, admitted the system of plan 2 loans had problems" but suggested the government's priority would be maintenance grants for poorer students, rather than tackling the high interest rates.