Universities job losses show Labour failing on economic growth – Plaid Cymru
‘Growth for Heathrow, but decline for Welsh universities’
During Wales Questions in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 29 January), Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts MP said that UK Government policies were worsening an “education disaster” after Cardiff University confirmed plans to cut 400 full-time jobs due to declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures.
Ms Saville Roberts called on the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, to reconsider the UK Government’s plan to increase National Insurance contributions for employers to ease the cost burden on universities.
She also called for the UK to rejoin the Single Market, highlighting how Brexit had led to a 68% drop in the number of EU students starting full-time undergraduate courses in the UK between 2020 and 2024 – the lowest level in 30 years.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:
“We’ve heard this week that it’s growth for Heathrow, but decline for Welsh universities.
“Cardiff University, in the Secretary of State’s home city, is axing 400 full-time jobs due to a funding crisis.
“Nursing, music, and modern language degrees are on the chopping block – this is an education disaster playing out in real time.
“Will the Government scrap National Insurance hikes to ease the strain on universities?”
Jo Stevens responded that potential job losses are “deeply concerning” and that she hoped a voluntary redundancies programme would “avoid any compulsory redundancies” and criticised 14 years of Conservative policies.
Liz Saville Roberts MP then asked:
“Talking of Conservative policies, universities have also been hammered by Brexit.
“The number of EU students starting full-time undergraduate courses in the UK fell by 68% between 2020 and 2024 – the lowest level in 30 years.
“Surely she agrees that rejoining the Single Market would help universities attract more EU students, as well of course as boosting economic growth?”
The Secretary of State responded that the Labour Government had “made economic growth its number one mission and that the Prime Minister is leading from the front in resetting our relationship with the EU.” She added that Ms Saville Roberts’ question “highlights some of the stark risks associated with separatism.”
Universities job losses show Labour failing on economic growth – Plaid Cymru
‘Growth for Heathrow, but decline for Welsh universities’
During Wales Questions in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 29 January), Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts MP said that UK Government policies were worsening an “education disaster” after Cardiff University confirmed plans to cut 400 full-time jobs due to declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures.
Ms Saville Roberts called on the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, to reconsider the UK Government’s plan to increase National Insurance contributions for employers to ease the cost burden on universities.
She also called for the UK to rejoin the Single Market, highlighting how Brexit had led to a 68% drop in the number of EU students starting full-time undergraduate courses in the UK between 2020 and 2024 – the lowest level in 30 years.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:
“We’ve heard this week that it’s growth for Heathrow, but decline for Welsh universities.
“Cardiff University, in the Secretary of State’s home city, is axing 400 full-time jobs due to a funding crisis.
“Nursing, music, and modern language degrees are on the chopping block – this is an education disaster playing out in real time.
“Will the Government scrap National Insurance hikes to ease the strain on universities?”
Jo Stevens responded that potential job losses are “deeply concerning” and that she hoped a voluntary redundancies programme would “avoid any compulsory redundancies” and criticised 14 years of Conservative policies.
Liz Saville Roberts MP then asked:
“Talking of Conservative policies, universities have also been hammered by Brexit.
“The number of EU students starting full-time undergraduate courses in the UK fell by 68% between 2020 and 2024 – the lowest level in 30 years.
“Surely she agrees that rejoining the Single Market would help universities attract more EU students, as well of course as boosting economic growth?”
The Secretary of State responded that the Labour Government had “made economic growth its number one mission and that the Prime Minister is leading from the front in resetting our relationship with the EU.” She added that Ms Saville Roberts’ question “highlights some of the stark risks associated with separatism.”