Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Funding further and higher education, social care, all public services - Composite

Session

2025-2026

Meeting link

Annual Congress

Meeting date

27 May 2026

Status

Passed

Motion

33

Motion text

Congress notes that:
1. further and higher education are facing severe financial crisis, job losses and declining real-terms pay
2. inequalities of wealth in the UK have increased each year during the 21st century, with public sector funding being eroded while wealth and corporate profits have increased
3. the destructive impact of Tory austerity policies upon public services has continued into 2026
4. education, health and social care services are grossly underfunded and consequently struggle to meet public need.
Congress believes that these trends will continue and worsen unless the UK system of taxation is made more progressive and a wealth tax is introduced. Such changes would significantly improve the quality of life for the
UK population, and would be supported by a large majority of citizens including many of those who are very wealthy.
Congress further believes:
a. growing wealth inequality undermines social and economic stability.
b. sustainable funding for education requires fair and progressive taxation.
c. reliance on tuition fees cannot resolve the structural funding crisis.
Congress resolves:
i. to lobby government and educate members on the need for significant tax reform, including a wealth tax and increases in capital gains and corporation tax, to:
A. reduce inequalities of wealth
B. replenish public finances and provide adequate funding for public services
C. enable proper public funding of further and higher education
D. support restoration of pay
E. clearly demonstrate political commitment to fundamental principles of fairness and social justice for all.
ii. to press employer bodies, including UUK, to lobby government for such reforms rather than seeking higher fees.

Proposing body

Loughborough University, Southern retired members

Amended

No

Allocated to

Strategy and finance committee (SFC)

Notes