What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The Tories will today ram through legislation that will axe university grants for the country’s poorest students .

Labour MPs have been blocked from debating the changes as the Government is pushing through the measure via an obscure Commons committee.

It will mean that from September half a million students in England and Wales from the poorest household will no longer get a free grant of £3,387 to help them with their studying costs.

Instead they will have to take out more expensive loans, meaning poorer students will end up paying more for their university education than those from well off families.

Labour MP Wes Streeting said the lack of parliamentary scrutiny was “outrageous and underhand.”

(Image: Getty)

“It is scandalous that such a major decision is being taken in this way,” he said.

Instead of the usual process of holding a Commons debate and a vote, the Government is axing the grants through the little-known Third Delegated Legislation Committee.

The committee, which has a Tory majority, does not have the power to vote down the cuts but only to consider them meaning they will automatically become law.

The National Union of Students says the maintenance grant helps less well off students with costs such as rent, food, energy bills and study materials.

“Grants are a key element in improving the accessibility of university for the most disadvantaged young people.

"Participation by the most disadvantaged has increased in the last few years – but this has been driven in part by the availability of grants,” it said.

Maintenance grants of £3,387 are available to anyone whose household income is £25,000 a year or less, those whose household income is £30,000 or less can get a grant of £2,441 and those of £35,000 or less can get £1,494.

At the moment 500,000 students receive the maintenance grant but from September this year they will have to take out a larger student loan to cover their education costs.

The NUS says this could see them graduate with debts of £53,000 on average while those from better off families will have debts of £40,500.

Mr Streeting said axing the grant could see fewer people from working class backgrounds go to university.

“A study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown that an increase in the student grant had a direct impact on participation by students from the poorest backgrounds.

“These are the sort of issues we should be able to debate in Parliament but because the Government is ramming it through a committee nobody has ever heard of it will not get the scrutiny it should have,” he said.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Mr Streeting accused the Government of breaking its pledge when it tripled tuition fees five years’ ago.

“When they tripled tuition fees one of the ways they claimed it would be fairer was they would increase grants for the poorest students. That pledge has now unravelled,” he said.

A Department for Business spokesman said: "Everyone with the potential to benefit from higher education should have the opportunity to do so, and our policy means that a lack of finance should not be a barrier to participation.

"Our changes will increase the overall living costs support we provide to students, and this will not have to be paid back until students are earning over £21,000.”