How can Labour win students back?

Students are increasingly shifting their support from the Labour Party to the Green Party. Many of the policies at the forefront of the Green campaign resonate well with students as they are often focused on the cost-of-living crisis, and students tend to have less financial security at this stage in life.

Arguably the single biggest issue on university students’ minds is their student loans. Until Labour can deliver a system for the financing of universities which does not rely so much on the wealth of students, they will remain an unpopular party among students. It is certainly challenging to witness politicians, many of whom attended university for free or for a fraction of today’s costs, favour the marketisation of education over students’ financial freedom once they have graduated.

Especially with the changing nature of society’s relationship with technology, Labour needs to work hard to ensure that students’ experiences at university and in their life after graduation is not undermined by the existence of generative Artificial Intelligence. The experience of students today is markedly different to that of students even five years ago. If this change was acknowledged by the governing party, it would go a long way in showing that Labour understands the concerns of current students. 

Winning back the student vote is by no means an easy task, it would require significant changes to show us that we are being listened to. The student population of the UK deserves to feel that we are a valued sector of the electorate, that the issues which are important to us are also important to the government.