The National Union of Students (NUS) today warned that newly published proposals from the Russell Group to remove the cap on student tuition fees would lead to students leaving university with debts of more than £40,000.
NUS warned the hugely unpopular hugely unpopular move would be political suicide for the Government.
Aaron Porter, NUS President-elect said:
"The removal of the cap on fees would fully expose students and their families to the huge risks and potential calamities of the market, abandoning them to sink or swim."
"This call shows no regard for the current economic climate students face, nor does it acknowledge that institutions have failed to improve the quality of what they offer despite fees trebling in 2006."
"The Russell Group's proposals would lead to many students leaving university with mortgage-style debts of more than £40,000 when times are already very tough for graduates and young people."
"This would be a nightmare scenario and Lord Browne should rule it out."
"It is disappointing and short-sighted for the Russell Group to pretend that the only way to pay for universities' funding shortcomings is to make students pick up the bill and pay more for less."
"This would be hugely unpopular with the public, who are overwhelmingly opposed to higher fees, and political suicide for the Government."