YET again we have the crazy policies of the Tory government which says it wants to support the aspirations of young people but then kicks away any help for students from less wealthy backgrounds.

The student support grant has been around for decades and helps pay for the basic cost of a course but this is about to be cut, adding more onto student loans. Future graduates will have loans totalling over £53k, compared with £35 – £40k currently.

The NHS Bursary for student nurses is also facing the chop and will add further to the debts of newly qualified nurses. Nurses now have to get a degree to practice and will not have help with any cost of living and course costs. This will deter many prospective nurses and lead to more nursing shortages.

The Government’s answer is to trawl the hospitals of the world and bring over their fully trained nurses at no cost to us but at great loss to countries in the Far East, Africa, Asia and even southern Europe, where wages are low and unemployment is very high.

The Tory government breaks its promises on immigration when it suits them and prevents our own young people getting training and jobs.

Lee Wright

Franche