Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has urged Anas Sarwar to oppose the hike to English tuition fees and make sure his MPs do the same. This is to address concerns that fees might return to Scotland if Labour takes power. In a letter seen by The National, Greer called on Sarwar to stand up against Keir Starmer and reiterate his previous stance on free tuition in Scotland.
The Scottish Labour party has maintained that they are committed to free tuition for Scottish students attending Scottish universities, as stated in their 2024 manifesto. However, the SNP has pointed out that Labour’s support for fee increases in England could potentially lead to a similar policy shift in Scotland if Labour wins the 2026 Holyrood election.
UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson recently announced an increase in English tuition fees from £9250 to £9535 per year. Greer highlighted Sarwar’s past criticism of the LibDems for supporting tuition fee increases while he was an MP. He emphasized the need for Sarwar to reaffirm his opposition to fee hikes and clarify his stance on tuition fees in Scotland.
Greer expressed the Scottish Greens’ deep concern over the UK Labour Government’s decision to raise tuition fees for university students in England. He described this move as a betrayal of students and young people in the higher education sector. Greer referenced Sarwar’s previous statements condemning record levels of student debt resulting from tuition fee hikes.
By urging Sarwar to reaffirm his anti-fee hike position, Greer hopes to alleviate concerns that Scottish Labour may reintroduce tuition fees if they come to power in Scotland. Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale had suggested that the party might consider bringing back fees to reform public services.
To address these fears, Greer called on Sarwar to direct Scottish Labour MPs to vote against the fee increase in England and clarify the party’s stance on tuition fees in Scotland. This is crucial to reassure the public that tuition fees will not return to Scotland under a Scottish Labour government.
In response to these developments, First Minister John Swinney warned that a Labour government in Scotland might introduce tuition fees. Greer’s letter to Sarwar seeks clarification on how Scottish Labour would handle tuition fees in Scotland and whether they would consider reintroducing fees.
The concerns raised by Greer underscore the importance of ensuring affordable higher education for students in Scotland. Sarwar’s response to these challenges will be closely watched to see how Scottish Labour positions itself on tuition fees moving forward.
