Overview
- Speaking on ITV's This Morning on Tuesday, Lewis said the main financial pressure is not tuition fees but a de facto parental contribution created by means-tested maintenance loans.
- He said students from households earning above £25,000 receive smaller living loans because entitlements are assessed on family income.
- Lewis claimed the £25,000 threshold has not risen since 2008 despite about 64% inflation, which he argued has eroded support.
- According to Lewis, households around £60,000 receive only the minimum maintenance loan, described as less than half of the maximum.
- He urged parents to start saving once a child reaches secondary school if university is likely, noting no policy change was announced in his remarks.