In the face of threats from Labour, the SNP will always protect free tuition
by SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has pledged that the SNP will do everything it can to protect free tuition and defend young people against the threat from Labour to impose sky-high fees on students, as new figures show students in Scotland are graduating with an average of £31,790 less debt than students in England.
The figures from the Student Loans Company, published last week, show Scottish students leave university with the lowest levels of debt in the UK – at £16,680 compared to £48,470 in Tory-run England, £37,360 in Labour-run Wales and £25,730 in Northern Ireland.
Analysis by the SNP has found the cost of student debt in England has soared since Labour first introduced tuition fees in 1998 – after Tony Blair promised that “Labour has no plans to introduce tuition fees for higher education.”
In 2000, the average student debt for students graduating in England was £2,690 but that has risen to £48,470 – that is 18 times more debt.
In contrast in Scotland, where the SNP government abolished tuition fees in 2007, the analysis shows levels of debt are significantly lower – with students graduating with just a third (34%) of the debt faced by the average student in England.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer, who personally benefited from free university tuition in the 1980s, has repeatedly refused to rule out raising tuition fees in government. Senior Labour figures in Scotland have also threatened to end free tuition in Scotland – with Finance spokesperson Michael Mara MSP suggesting imposing “graduate taxes” or “endowments”.
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn says it is shameful that students in England are leaving university saddled with £31,790 more debt than students in Scotland as a direct result of the Labour Party’s decision to introduce tuition fees, and the increases imposed by the Tories and Lib Dems.
With Keir Starmer’s party now threatening to end free tuition in Scotland, and increase fees even higher in England, it’s vital to vote SNP on 4th July to defend free education and put Scotland’s interests first.
The SNP abolished tuition fees and we will do everything we can to protect free education and defend young people against Labour Party threats to impose sky-high fees on students.
Keir Starmer’s student debt bomb will saddle young people with obscene levels of debt. Stephen Flynn said: “It’s shocking that, having personally benefited from free education, Sir Keir is now breaking his word and robbing young people of the same opportunities in his very own Nick Clegg moment.”
On the 4th of July, vote SNP to protect free education and secure a future made in Scotland, for Scotland.