As students' costs to attend #university continue to spiral, one might conclude that this was all part of a plan to make #highereducation unaffordable for the children from poorer families...

Not so much 'widening participation' as 'narrowing participation'.

Its almost like the Govt. was suspicious of an educated electorate?

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/sep/27/uk-university-students-facing-unprecedented-rent-rises