The Union of Jewish Students said it hopes Labour’s election pledge to abolish tuition fees will encourage Jewish students to vote in the general election.

But the union stopped short of saying whether the pledge would persuade more of its members to back the party.

In its manifesto Labour announced it would abolish university tuition fees, which are due to rise to £9,250 a year in the autumn.

UJS said many Jewish students welcomed the announcement which included a pledge to reinstate maintenance grants.

The policy could see students not paying fees from as early as autumn 2017.

A UJS spokesperson said the union supported “a free and accessible education.

“We hope that this announcement will encourage an increasing number of Jewish students to register to vote and engage in the general election over the next few weeks.”

But tuition fees was just one of a range of issues Jewish students would consider when deciding how to vote.

“We encourage Jewish students to take the opportunity to attend hustings and read different parties’ policies so they are well informed when they get to the ballot box,” the spokesperson said.

Labour also announced students half-way through their courses would not have to pay for the remaining years. The party said it would fund the annual cost of abolishing tuition fees by increasing corporation tax, and income tax for people earning over £80,000.

Young people are being encouraged to sign up to vote as the deadline to register – 11.59pm today -  approaches.