The government is "running out of time" to reform the student loans system before losing the support of young voters, the National Union of Students (NUS) has warned.
The NUS, alongside campaign group Organise, delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street on Monday, calling for a reversal of the freeze on repayment thresholds and reduced interest rates.
This action coincides with a Treasury Select Committee inquiry into student loans, amid increasing debate.
NUS president Amira Campbell issued a stark warning: "This Government is at real risk of losing a lot of people that voted for them in the first place."
She added, "there are a predicted five million graduates impacted by this who are voters now. The simple message is wake up and take action because they are running out of time."
Ms Campbell criticised central government's inaction despite the committee review.
"The new consultation is set up by the Treasury Select Committee but central government has still not adopted or decided to make any changes. That is genuinely atrocious," she asserted.
She stressed the need for direct government decisions, arguing: "What we really need to see is, from central government, the decision to make changes. It should not need to take a review to turn around and say that the thresholds need to be U-turned on."
The NUS represents over seven million students.
Roxana Khan-Williams, head of campaigns for Organise, highlighted widespread public concern, noting the 35,000-signature petition.
"We are here to deliver a petition of over 35,000 people. The Government really needs to take immediate action," she said.
Ms Khan-Williams underscored the personal impact: "I don’t have a single friend who is not impacted by this, it feels so pertinent for so many in our generation."
She warned the system risks deterring young people from higher education, adding "for so long our generation has been ignored."
