Labour came under fresh pressure over its student debt ‘U-turn’ last night after the Tories demanded an immediate apology from the party’s schools supremo.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner was challenged to say sorry for ditching an Election pledge to wipe out graduate debt.

In the Commons last week, Ms Rayner sparked outrage among Conservatives by appearing to abandon the promise by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during the campaign to ‘deal’ with existing student debt and reduce it.

The promise – along with a pledge to scrap tuition fees – was seen as a huge vote-winner for Labour among younger voters.

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Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner was challenged to say sorry for ditching an Election pledge to wipe out graduate debt

Ms Greening also challenged the Labour spokesman to say what steps her party took during the Election campaign to ‘rectify’ the false impression given by Mr Corbyn to young voters

But Ms Rayner, seen as a potential future party leader by Labour colleagues, said, ‘We have no plans to write off existing student debt’, and claimed ‘we never promised to do so’.

In a letter to her yesterday, Education Secretary Justine Greening called on her to apologise for abandoning a ‘clear commitment to reduce the debts of millions of people’.

She wrote: ‘In pretending that the Labour Party never intended to clear student debt, you are further misleading those who put their faith in you.’

Ms Greening also challenged the Labour spokesman to say what steps her party took during the Election campaign to ‘rectify’ the false impression given by Mr Corbyn to young voters.

The Education Secretary concluded: ‘Given your party leader has campaigned under the banner of “straight-talking honest politics”, I look forward to your imminent apology and clarification.’

Labour hit back last night by insisting Mr Corbyn had never pledged to write off debts for students who had already graduated.

In a letter to her yesterday, Education Secretary Justine Greening called on her to apologise for abandoning a ‘clear commitment to reduce the debts of millions of people’

A party source said: ‘Jeremy said he was looking at ways to ease the debt burden, though repeatedly made it clear we had no specific proposals on the issue as of yet.’

Ms Greening’s call on Ms Rayner came as it emerged that the Labour star boasts of how she is now compared to one of the party’s great figures.

At a rally last month, Ms Rayner revealed how senior party figures referred to her as ‘the new Nye Bevan’ – the Welsh hero of the post-war Labour government.