As we reported, the first tuition fee increase in eight years is expected to be announced this afternoon.

Sky News understands the fees will rise with inflation to £9,500 a year in October 2025 and £10,500 by 2029.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is due to confirm the move later in a House of Commons statement.

Any such announcement could cause a strong backlash, given Sir Keir Starmer pledged to scrap tuition fees when he became Labor leader in 2020.

The Prime Minister hit back at that promise early last year, saying it was no longer affordable because of the country’s “different financial situation” and chose to prioritize the NHS.

However, at the time he said Labor would deliver a “fairer solution” for students if they won the election.

Independent MP Zara Sultana, who lost the Labor whip after rebelling over the two-child benefit cap, posted on X: ‘The government’s tuition fee hike is wrong. Students should not have to pay tuition this year or any year. It’s time to eliminate tuition fees and cancel student debt because education is a public good, not a commodity.”

Universities have faced a funding crisis, largely caused by a huge drop in overseas students.

Rules introduced by Rishi Sunak’s government have made it harder for international students, who pay higher fees than British students, to bring their families with them to the UK.

But Ms Phillipson recently said universities should try to manage their own budgets before hoping for a bailout from the taxpayer.