Ed Miliband told Birmingham students he was on their side as he pledged to fight the proposed rises in tuition fees.

The Labour leader made his promise after paying tribute to “vibrant” staff and pupils at the Matthew Boulton campus of Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMC).

“I take on board your worries about education cuts,” he said.

“We will be fighting them all the way and I want you to know, we’re on your side. We wouldn’t be running the 80 per cent cuts in higher education teaching budgets which are causing the rise in tuition fees.”

The Labour leader also took the time to ask young people if and why they had turned against his party.

“The Labour party is on a journey. I hope it’s a journey back to power. I want to know why people lost trust in us and how we start that process in regaining trust,” he said.