Daniel Zeichner has slammed as “undemocratic and tawdry” the Higher Education and Research Bill, which would allow almost all universities in England to introduce annual increases in tuition fees until 2020 without improving teaching, as the Government tries to push the legislation through Parliament before the General Election.

The Government initially argued that the bill would make higher fees dependent on better teaching for students. But this requirement will not come in until 2020/21, meaning universities can raise fees each year without improving outcomes for their students. This year, the cap on fees will increase to £9,250 per year.

The news comes after Daniel Zeichner recently called out the Government for increasing interest rates on student loans over the odds from 4.6% to 6.1% this autumn.

Daniel Zeichner said: “The legislation is an undemocratic and tawdry mess. The Government should withdraw it now. Not content with the Coalition Government’s unfair tripling of the cap on tuition fees, the Government is now making students pay over the odds in interest rates on their student loans and allowing universities to charge even more without improving teaching.”