Martin Lewis ambushes Badenoch on Good Morning Britain over student loans plan

martin lewis interrupted Kemi Badenoch during a live interview about Conservative plans to cut interest rates on some student loans, walking on to the set and confronting the party leader over who would benefit from the measures. The exchange, which involved the interviewer Ed Balls, ended with an apology and a request for a calmer meeting.

What happened on set

Ed Balls was interviewing Kemi Badenoch about the Tory proposal when he challenged whether the plan would help only former students in the highest-paying jobs. Badenoch insisted it would not. At that point Martin Lewis began shouting from off-set, walked into shot, sided with Balls and eventually sat on the studio sofa. During the interaction Lewis was asked to "take a seat. "

The Tory proposals outlined

The Conservative plan, set out overnight, would scrap any above-inflation interest rate increases on so-called plan 2 student loans in England for those who started courses from 2012 to 2022. The change would be financed by cutting tens of thousands of university courses that do not provide "value for money" for students. Interviewed about the plan on Sunday, the shadow education secretary, Laura Trott, suggested this could include creative arts courses.

Martin Lewis intervenes live

Lewis told Badenoch that while the student loan system needed change, the proposed plan was the wrong move. He said: "If you want to help the middle-earning students, the most important thing is the repayment threshold should have been increased. " He warned: "Lowering the interest rate now will only help those who can clear [the debt] within the 30 years, which means lower and middle earning graduates won’t benefit from that change. " He added: "If you have £1bn to help students, the most direct thing that would help all students would be not freezing the repayment threshold. "

Key quotes and counter-claims

Badenoch maintained her position, saying: "I don’t think that’s right" when challenged and later insisting that "everybody will benefit, " adding: "I’m the first person who’s even trying to solve this problem. " She expanded on her view in later remarks, arguing that student loans have "become a scam, " saying it took her eight years to pay hers off, that she made her last payment in 2011 and that her debt was only £14, 000. She said she could not imagine what it was like for a young person today with £40, 000 of debt, and described the 2012 changes as clearly not working for the world of 2026. She offered an on-air debate: "So I’d genuinely love to come on your show and debate my plan vs yours. "

Aftermath and apologies

Lewis later apologised for the interruption, saying Badenoch had handled it "far better than I would have the other way round. " He wrote that he had asked his office to request a meeting to "discuss this more calmly. " Badenoch replied that she appreciated the outreach and that she "do[es] love a feisty debate. " Lewis described the student loans system as a "nightmare" and a "mess" and focused his criticism on plan 2 loans, arguing that changes proposed would be impermissible if a commercial lender attempted them and might be struck down by the regulator.

Comment and reaction

Alongside the on-air exchange, a commentator using the name Steerpike gave the encounter to the Tory leader, writing: "Game, set and match to Kemi. " Lewis is widely known as the self-styled 'Money Saving Expert' and is heavily trusted by much of the public on personal finance matters, polling shows. He has also called on the Chancellor to change a key decision on student loans made in the last budget, calling it a breach of the contract graduates originally signed.

Sequence of events is clear: Ed Balls challenged Badenoch, Badenoch defended the scheme, martin lewis shouted from off-set and joined the sofa, the argument continued, Lewis apologised and requested a meeting, and Badenoch signalled willingness to debate the proposals further.

Unclear in the provided context: whether the requested meeting has been scheduled and what formal responses, if any, ministers beyond Badenoch or the Chancellor have given since the exchange.

Closing: The confrontation has amplified scrutiny of proposals to change interest rates on plan 2 loans for students who began between 2012 and 2022, the proposed financing through course cuts, and debate over whether raising the repayment threshold would better help lower- and middle-earning graduates.