Fuck off Graham Stringer

You have British connections so you know exactly what that means....

Balls have replaced guts, guts are so 20th century.
I'd argue balls are not the best thing to have, a swift kick in them leaves most of us blokes rolling in agony. Have a fanny instead, they bleed a week of each month for 40 years and can squeeze a small human out and still come back for more.

And he posts that now, not realising just how stupid that makes him look? He speaks like a spoiled toddler.

Yeah I'm disappointed at the pandering to the right. I think there are signs but I think we need to judge in 2 to 3 years minimum

After 14 years of damage, some wilful, some just stupid, some unfortunately unavoidable, you expect immediate improvement?

I agree (and definitely about govt) but I can afford to.
Millions can't. Fix the NHS, the schools, kids in poverty, broken justice, courts and prisons, hollowed out military, then back to free education, it's a nice to have for most, but wouldn't be priority, so meantime make it meaningful.

I get that (though I didn't go to uni full time) but I'm talking now and about the general population who don't get to go because they can't afford to not work. They won't appreciate paying for those who can afford not to work unless they see a benefit for their own families.

Seeing somebody already well off go to Uni may be nice, but it doesn't put food in your child's belly or keep the roof over their head. It isn't free, there is a cost, so there must be benefits for all, or an us vs them situation develops, they can afford to get an education, we have to work to earn

So who gets to go, and who funds it. And who funds those that go whilst they are at uni, in your ideal world.

Now I'm not saying that was right, and I get your point about education vs training but I do believe university isn't and shouldn't be for everyone and if it's free, it should be free for essential roles.

But they are not essential for everyone and not everyone wants or needs to go that route. When I was 16, in Manchester, 40+ years ago probably 10% went to Uni. My wife is from London, she went to Uni as did her first husband (deceased) in the south it was more common as there weren't the mfg jobs...

...really essential for so many roles. We aren't going back to free universal university access, the toothpaste is out of the tube. Better to look at more cost effective solutions for today's problems considering how AI will impact etc.

I lost interest at school, went from top of the school in science and maths and left with 3 grade c o levels. I went into manufacturing and retail jobs for 3 years then joined the ROF as a junior buyer. A few years later I studied professional procurement quals at night school. Degrees aren't...

Ok...devils advocate - what's the point of a degree that costs you £50k and doesn't improve your employment options. Not everyone is or should be academic. Update the school curriculum and equip people for the future, rather than the past.

I do think there has been too much emphasis on degree courses and degrees have been somewhat devalued. Courses should be free in areas where we need resources, nursing for example. A lot of damage has been done by reducing foreign students as well though.