The proposal put forward in a report by think-tank Demos proposes that university students should carry out a required 100 hours of community service in recognition of the subsidy the state pays towards their education - estimated at £8,000. This would add to the average graduate’s debt of over £20,000.
By backing the proposal, David Lammy is pre-empting the Government’s own review of university finance.
NUS President Wes Streeting said:
“Astonishingly, David Lammy has consistently refused to give his position on whether top up fees should rise because he doesn’t want to ‘pre-empt the forthcoming review’ – yet he sees fit to pre-empt the review in order to back these barmy proposals.
“It is outrageous for David Lammy to back these proposals, which would essentially force students to pay to be punished. Voluntary community service of all kinds is a tremendous and socially valuable thing for students and graduates to do, but compulsory community service is a criminal penalty.”
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