SNP pressure Scots Labour MPs and Tory on top-up fees vote

Just 24-hours before the crucial Report Stage and Third Reading votes in the House of Commons on variable top-up fees in the Higher Education Bill, the Scottish National Party’s Westminster Education Spokesperson Ms Annabelle Ewing MP said today [Tuesday] that all Scottish MPs had to choose “between Tony Blair and Scotland”. Ms Ewing said:

“This is a crucial vote, where the loyalties of Scottish MPs are on the line.

“Top-up fees in England will be bad for Scotland – because the only possible impact of English university fees down the line would be to create a funding gap for Scottish higher education.

“That is why every single Scottish MP must vote against top-up fees in the votes tomorrow. It would be outrageous if – yet again – Scottish Labour MPs were responsible for forcing through an English policy that would also short-change Scotland.

“Scottish Labour MPs face a clear choice – they can vote for the political needs of Tony Blair, or for the interests of Scotland. They cannot do both.

“And the solo Scots Tory, Peter Duncan, will be derided if he stands aside once more and refuses to vote when Scottish interests are at stake. This is the man who voted on the Mersey Tunnel Bill which has no conceivable impact on Scotland, and yet will not vote against top-up fees when Scottish interests are on the line.

“Anything other than a vote against top-up fees will help Tony Blair to get these flawed and deeply unpopular proposals through.

“The five SNP MPs will be standing up for the Scottish interest and voting against top-up fees – we call on all of Scotland’s MPs to do the right thing by their constituents and by Scotland.”