I don’t know the history of tuition in UK; but, I bet I know how it goes:
1. Everybody gets free education
2. Taxes go up - but its ok, you’re getting a free education
3. Everybody not living in poverty will have to pay some small amount
4. Make that a slightly higher amount
5. Oh sh!t, we’re so broke we have to triple what people pay
6. There :). Everybody pays higher taxes, and pays tuition.
Socialism 101