Student loans came in early '90s by Major I think.

Labour introduced tuition fees. Labour had a target of 50% into university.

Tories increased the fees to be completely paid by students.

This has got out of control. To think you're only going to pay interest it'll surely put those off going onto less academic courses, causing companies to recruit a level leavers and train them.

I thought the loans were introduced by the Major Govt to be in addition to the maintenance grant to help pay for living expenses.
Did Labour not fully replace the maintenance grants with student loans - as they decided that students should part pay for the cost of university - at the same time they increased fees? That was my recollection, but I stand to be corrected. It was a while ago.
In short it strikes me that both sides are equally as culpable but that, actually, the target of 50% set by Labour (and ratified by later Govts) only really weakened the impact of a degree, and I do personally think that Companies should pay, recruit and train vocationally.

Doesn't really matter who 'initially pledges what', what is important is that the right thing gets done.

Problem I have with Labour and the Conservatives, I wouldn't trust either party after the last 27 years to sell me a turd in a bucket, without lying about the bucket.

So basically all this "its the nasty tories fault" is a load of bollocks,it was labour who bought in the present system.

And Tories trebled the fees and all universities raised the costs to that amount.