PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Cap student loan interest rates at inflation (CPI), do not apply retrospectively
We ask the Government to: Cap student loan interest at inflation (CPI), and Ensure future changes are not applied retrospectively to existing borrowers. We think this would restore fairness, transparency, and confidence in the student finance system.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
240
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 240/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 240/100,000
Background
We call on the Government to reform student loan interest rates so borrowers have a realistic chance of repaying what they owe. Current student loan interest rates exceed inflation for many graduates, meaning that despite making regular repayments, balances continue to grow rather than fall. For many borrowers, this can make the loan effectively impossible to repay in full. Student loans were intended to be a fair, income-contingent contribution to education — not a debt that increases indefinitely.