The Scottish National Party claim that the Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont is facing her own ‘Nick Clegg moment’, Education Secretary Michael Russell has said ahead of a vote on free university tuition in the Scottish Parliament. In a letter to the Scottish Labour Leader, Mr Russell highlighted Labour’s previous support for NUS Scotland’s ‘Reclaim your voice’ pledge. Labour backed the pledge when Johann Lamont was Deputy Leader, committing the party to not introduce tuition fees in Scotland, and the party’s website continues to boast of “no price tag on education”.
Commenting, Mr Russell said: "The Scottish Government believes that access to education should be based on ability to learn, not the ability to pay. That was the position the public backed and it was the position on which Johann Lamont and every other Labour MSP stood at the last election. Now, however, every speech Labour makes on the subject takes them further away from that simple, fair principle. Most recently, Johann Lamont’s own Deputy, Anas Sarwar, seemed to make clear that they were breaking their pledge and following in the Tories footsteps down the road to charging fees."
"This is despite fees disastrous impact on the numbers applying to university south of the border. In stark contrast, here in Scotland we have record numbers in Higher Education and are writing into law Widening Access Agreements with our universities. Now, Johann Lamont faces her own, personal ‘Nick Clegg moment’. In a single vote in Parliament, she can vote with the SNP and back no tuition fees, or she can vote with the Tories and betray the principles on which she was elected. Her own party’s website boasts of ‘no price tag on education’. Now, we will find out whether she will live up to that boast."
