Scottish students now set to be £10,500 better off than counterparts in rest of UK.
 
SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has warned that only the SNP can be trusted to protect free tuition, as reports indicate that tuition fees are set to be hiked in England.
 
As reported in The Times, tuition fees in England under the Labour government are expected to rise in line with inflation, meaning they would reach £10,500 per year during this parliamentary term. 
 
The move comes after Michael Marra, Scottish Labour’s finance spokesperson, hinted earlier this year that the Labour party would examine models to reintroduce some form of charges in Scotland. Elsewhere. the Welsh Labour Government recently voted to lift the cap on tuition fees to £9250 a year. This is in stark contrast to the SNP Scottish Government who abolished tuition fees back in 2007.

Figures released earlier in the summer show that a staggering 1.8 million people in England and Wales are in at least £50,000 of student debt.
 
Commenting, Alasdair Allan MSP said:

“Whilst the increase of tuition fees for English and Welsh domiciled students under Labour is alarming to see. It sadly comes as no surprise. Let’s not forget that, despite Labour’s rhetoric, they are the party who introduced tuition fees.

“Students and their families in the Western Isles already face high energy prices, continued austerity and costly air fares. Therefore, I can understand why students here would be concerned seeing tuition fees rise and Mr Marra’s most recent comments. 

“The SNP, in stark contrast to Labour, is unequivocal in its support to use our Parliament in Holyrood to protect the right to a free university education.

“Under no circumstances will tuition fees be imposed on students in Scotland, and it is increasingly obvious that only the SNP can be trusted to protect free tuition.”