WEU Campaigns to Abolish Student Fees

The Workers of England Union is dedicated to the abolition of student fees. Students are the future of England, both economically and socially, and they should be free to learn without the burden of debt. The WEU campaigns to abolish student fees so that they may focus on their education and help England compete on the global stage.

University Students Turn to Sex Work

By Press Association, March 27, 2015

A major study by Swansea University found that one in 20 students had engaged in sex work while pursuing a degree to reduce loan debt and cover basic living expenses. Men were slightly more likely than women to enter the sex industry, taking on roles from prostitution and escorting to stripping and online services.

Key findings of the Student Sex Work Project report:

• 5% of men and 3.5% of women reported working in the sex industry.
• Nearly 22% of all respondents said they had considered sex work at some point.
• Motivations included funding a lifestyle (62%), paying basic living costs (56%), and reducing end-of-course debt (40%).
• Non-financial motives: 60% anticipated enjoying it; 54% were curious; 44% cited sexual pleasure.
• Up to 25% found it difficult to leave the industry, and 25% did not feel safe during sex work.
• Counselling access rose to 21%, yet most universities lack specific policies or support services for student sex workers.

Dr. Tracey Sagar, Associate Professor of Criminology at Swansea, emphasized: “Students feel stigmatized and fear judgment from family and friends. It’s vital universities arm themselves with knowledge to support student sex workers.”

Warning over Student Loan Write-Off

By Press Association, February 14, 2014

PA Wire/Press Association Images

A Commons Public Accounts Committee report warns that writing off student loans could cost more than the Government forecasts. The total outstanding student loan debt is expected to rise from £46 billion to around £200 billion by 2042 (in today’s prices), mainly due to tuition fees capped at £9,000 a year. The Government currently assumes 35–40% of loans will never be repaid.

Key concerns:

• Forecasting accuracy: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) cannot reliably predict repayment rates or the future cost of write-offs.
• Collection gaps: Approximately 368,000 graduates are classified as ‘should be repaying’ but have no UK employment record; their £5.3 billion debt is unaccounted for.
• Overseas graduates: Limited data on UK and EU graduates living abroad raises questions about future repayments.

PAC Chair Margaret Hodge stated: “The Government assumes £16–18 billion of current debt and £70–80 billion of future debt will never be repaid. We lack confidence in those figures and urge improved forecasting and collection efforts.”

Join the Workers of England Union

Become a Member of the W.E.U. today to support campaigns against student fees, housing inequality, and more.

Related Articles

• Rents Rise by 10.2% in the East of England
• Britain’s Divided Decade