Ben Golightly, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate in Gwyr Abertawe (Swansea and Gower)

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidates are now the only ones in the Welsh Senedd election standing up for young people.

In 2021, Plaid Cymru promised an immediate £1,500 reduction in fees for Welsh-domiciled students at Welsh universities – with a “long-term goal of free university tuition.” But all that has since dropped from their 2026 Senedd manifesto, replaced by a promise of a review.

At the 2024 general election, the Green Party supported “the restoration of grants and the end of tuition fees”. However, in the 2026 Senedd elections, the Greens are instead now calling only for a pathway to “sustainably lower” tuition fees.

And in 2023, the Labour Party under Keir Starmer dropped Jeremy Corbyn’s free education pledges.

But the Welsh Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition manifesto instead says: “University tuition fees should be scrapped”, and grants paid at a level “to allow students to study without having to work”.

That’s what we’re standing for. Apparently now in Wales, we are the only candidates that are.

We have a record, such as leading successful student rent strikes in Swansea and Bangor during the Covid crisis, winning millions of pounds back for students.

Promoted by Dave Warren for the Welsh Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, both at 29 Tir Y Farchnad, Gowerton, Swansea SA4 3GS.