Higher Education funding: SNP and Scottish Labour are unbelievable and avoiding the tough decisions

The Director of CBI Scotland has today warned the SNP and Scottish Labour to face up to reality and not to put the future funding of Scottish Higher Education at risk.

Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, said:

"Iain McMillan is spot on to say both the SNP and Scottish Labour are avoiding the tough decisions on higher education funding. These are two political parties willing to say anything to divert attention away from the real issues, as we approach the election. Students deserve better than that.

"We believe a progressive graduate contribution, repayable once a salary reaches a certain threshold at an affordable rate, is the only way of bridging the massive funding gap we will be faced with. As Iain McMillan says, both Labour and the SNP appear to be working on the figure of £93m instead of the £200m Universities Scotland believes will need to be found.

"The SNP and Labour are both totally unbelievable and refusing to face up to reality. Only the Scottish Conservatives will provide our students, colleges and universities with a sustainable future."

Scottish Conservatives reject up-front fees, and we reject a pure graduate tax. We accept there is going to have to be a graduate contribution, repayable from future earnings and at an affordable rate.

Back to all posts