First Minister Humza Yousaf calls for Labour to protect free tuition after Starmer’s u-turn
by Labour’s branch office in Scotland may reverse yet another of its policy positions in an embarrassing attempt to capitulate to Sir Keir Starmer.
Scottish Labour politicians have already dumped their climate crisis, energy and health positions to synchronise with the policies of Sir Keir Starmer and Labour in England.
Mirroring Labour’s shift to the right down south, they have also dropped their opposition to crippling Tory welfare rules like the bedroom tax and the two child cap – a measure that Scottish Labour’s deputy leader previously compared to China’s one child policy.
The leader of Labour’s Scottish branch office, Anas Sarwar, has been unusually tight-lipped on the issue of tuition fees in Scotland. In a desperate attempt to court Tory voters, Labour in Scotland has pledged to implement tax cuts for high income individuals – a promise that can only be kept by slashing services and entitlements that enable social mobility.
By scrapping free tuition, Labour will usher in a situation where education is based on the ability to pay rather than the ability to learn. Avenues for young people from low and middle income families will be closed, and the best paying jobs will once again become a reserve of the wealthiest.
This kind of elitism in education will undo years of progress, the long term consequences affecting businesses, living standards, and the wider economy.
In a letter to Anas Sarwar, the First Minister Humza Yousaf called for Labour in Scotland to clarify their position of tuition fees for students in Scotland.
The calls for clarity come following Sir Keir Starmer u-turning on his own support for free tuition – widely accepted as a pledge he only made to be elected Labour leader. He has since scrapped a raft of similar pledges, including a commitment to dismantle the infamous Universal Credit welfare system.
Even more damning were comments made by Scottish Labour’s finance spokesman, Michael Marra, who suggested that Scottish Labour would examine reintroducing the outrageous and gruelling charges that punished students in Scotland for so many years.
In his letter, SNP Leader Humza Yousaf MSP writes:
“Dear Anas,
“I am writing regarding your Finance Spokesperson Michael Marra’s recent comments on university tuition fees.
“The Times has reported that Mr Marra, a senior member of your frontbench team, has suggested that his party will examine models that would reintroduce charges.
“Scottish Labour’s Finance Spokesperson states that Labour will need to “find a new formula” to university funding before going further to suggest “there’s lots of models across Europe … there’s post-hoc in terms of after the event, things that we had previously whether it be graduate taxes, whether it be endowments.” (The Times, 19th February).
“Since the SNP Government abolished Labour’s backdoor tuition fees in 2007, close to 700,000 students in Scotland have benefited from free access to university.
“The number of Scottish first-time, full-time degree entrants has grown by 31% and the number of students from our poorest communities is at a record high.
“Asking those who earn the most to pay a little more allows Scotland to have the strongest social contract in the UK.
“In contrast, your current tax plans would result in £561 million less for public services and the values people in Scotland hold dear.
“Placing this extraordinary progress at risk is a betrayal of our young people and demonstrates there appears to be not a single principle your party is not willing to abandon.
“Thus far, your silence on your Finance Spokesperson’s remarks has been deafening, but young people in Scotland have the right to know precisely what Labour stands for.
“Your leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has already u-turned on his support for free tuition.
“In Labour-run Wales, the cap on university tuition fees is rising from £9,000 to £9,250.
“I’d be grateful if you could confirm Michael Marra’s comments are now Labour Party policy in Scotland, and outline exactly how you think students should pay for tuition in Scotland and how high the fees should be?
“Abolishing tuition fees is one of my party’s proudest achievements and the SNP in government will always ensure that access to university is based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay.
“I look forward to your response.
Regards,
Humza Yousaf”