In today’s newsletter: Rising debts, frozen thresholds and spiralling interest have left millions of graduates questioning whether England’s student finance system still resembles the deal they were promised
Good morning.
In November, Rachel Reeves tucked a freeze to student loan repayment thresholds into her autumn budget, to little fanfare. The threshold, normally expected to rise each tax year to account for inflation, would rise this year, and then stay frozen until 2030, dragging people on lower salaries into repayments earlier.
Middle East | A torpedo fired by a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the south coast of Sri Lanka as the Trump administration followed through on its threats to destroy Tehran’s military and political leadership.
UK news | A former Labour adviser married to a Labour MP is among three men who have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
BBC | The BBC is to call for an end to political appointments to its board as part of sweeping changes designed to protect its independence.
Jeffrey Epstein | The House oversight committee has voted to subpoena US attorney general Pam Bondi to answer questions over the justice department’s handling of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein.
Immigration |Up to 21,000 asylum seekers who have waited for a year for their claims to be processed could be allowed to enter the jobs market so they can support themselves, the Home Office said, as part of a package of measures to be announced on Thursday.
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