This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/student-university-debt-fees-jeremy-corbyn-john-mcdonnell-row-back-backtrack-pay-off-andrew-marr-a7843446.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Student debt: Shadow Chancellor rows back on Jeremy Corbyn's pre-election pledge to 'deal with it' Student debt: Shadow Chancellor rows back on Jeremy Corbyn's pre-election pledge to 'deal with it'
(about 4 hours later)
John McDonnell has backtracked on Jeremy Corbyn’s pledge to pay off some historic student debt – downgrading it to an “ambition” for Labour.John McDonnell has backtracked on Jeremy Corbyn’s pledge to pay off some historic student debt – downgrading it to an “ambition” for Labour.
At the general election, the Labour leader fuelled a huge surge in support among young people by promising help for students stuck with enormous debts from tuition fees.At the general election, the Labour leader fuelled a huge surge in support among young people by promising help for students stuck with enormous debts from tuition fees.
Pledging to axe fees in future, he told NME magazine: “I don’t see why those that had the historical misfortune to be at university during the £9,000 period should be burdened excessively compared to those that went before or those that come after.Pledging to axe fees in future, he told NME magazine: “I don’t see why those that had the historical misfortune to be at university during the £9,000 period should be burdened excessively compared to those that went before or those that come after.
"I will deal with it.” “I will deal with it.”
But Mr McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, has now acknowledged the expected bill – around £100bn – is “a lot of money”.But Mr McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, has now acknowledged the expected bill – around £100bn – is “a lot of money”.
He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “We will look at what we can do”. He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “We will look at what we can do.”
Mr McDonnell added: “We are going to try to, it’s real ambition of ours – I don’t want to promise something we can’t deliver.”Mr McDonnell added: “We are going to try to, it’s real ambition of ours – I don’t want to promise something we can’t deliver.”
Last week, the Shadow Education Secretary, Angela Rayner, said it was Labour's "ambition" to write off all student debt.Last week, the Shadow Education Secretary, Angela Rayner, said it was Labour's "ambition" to write off all student debt.
However, she also admitted it was a "huge amount" and said the party would not commit to doing so "unless we can afford to". However, she also admitted it was a “huge amount” and said the party would not commit to doing so “unless we can afford to”.
While Labour pledged to scrap university tuition fees in its manifesto, Mr Corbyn went further by suggesting existing debts could be wiped from the books. While Labour pledged to scrap university tuition fees in its manifesto, Mr Corbyn went further by suggesting existing debts could be wiped from the books. 
The Greens were the only party to include a similar commitment in their manifesto.The Greens were the only party to include a similar commitment in their manifesto.