Liberal Youth Scotland denounces the Browne Report which is released today, noting that unrestricted costs of tuition will cause dire consequences for Scotland creating a funding gap between universities north and south of the border.
We as Liberal Democrats in Scotland are proud of our education policy of free tuition fees which was established during the Lib-Lab Coalition between 1999 and 2007 and signed by the Deputy First Minister Nichol Stephen MSP.
We are concerned of the appearance of double standards that will be created in Scotland for many voters, with the apparent support of one policy in one parliament and yet almost the exact opposite in another.
We as Liberal Youth Scotland are calling to our Scottish MPs to stand firm and proud on our policy of free tuition fees, avoid the funding gap, and to vote NO on the recommendations of the Browne Report and NO to a rise in tuition fees.
President of Liberal Youth Scotland, Kristian Chapman, commented on the matter saying: “As a candidate that stood in the General Election for the constituency of Aberdeen North I am outraged at the recommendations of the Browne which seeks to condemn students for their thirst for knowledge”
“It is important that we uphold our promises to the members of public within each of our constituency we wished to represent and support the pledge that we as Liberal Democrat candidates all signed.”
“I praise the comments in recent weeks of Sir Menzies Campbell MP for North East Fife and Charles Kennedy MP for Ross, Skye & Lochaber in upholding their commitment to students and I would strongly urge our fellow Liberal Democrat MPs to do the same”
“I do not want to see students burdened any further with University debt. The Browne report does not appear to take the impact of student debt into consideration, discouraging thousands of students from undertaking further education”
In the meantime if you wish to raise any questions or concerns on the matter you can email us at Scotland@liberalyouth.org
