SNP Student wing hits back at Student Presidents.
The rather damning remarks from the 10 student sabbaticals do not come as a surprise to the SNP student wing. Their hypocrisy is evident to every one but themselves given the many of them have allegiances with the Labour party.
Andrew Harlick, Convener of the Federation of Student Nationalists, commented
"The departure of one spin doctor only opens up a job for another Labour President to step into in reward for their good work. To talk of the SNP, the only party to believe in free education, of laying the ground work for tuition fees is simply pure lies. Let us not forget which parties introduced the Graduate Endowment for students, a form of back door tuition fee, in the first place. Scottish students are far better off under an SNP Government"
The SNP has already committed itself to abolishing the Graduate Endowment fee and even began to replace loans with grants for part time students. Not only this but Universities are getting a better deal under the SNP Government than they ever did under Labour, receiving over £5 billion in the next three years, and there will be a 20% increase in capital funding for universities.
Gail Lythgoe, Secretary of the FSN, echoed Andrew Harlick, commenting:
"Where were the student sabbatical's comments when fees where introduced in the first place? Did they ever speak up or were they told to be quiet and follow orders from the hierarchy of the Labour party? Isn't it a bit perverse to side with the party which has created increasing student debt and against the party which is doing the most for students?"
Ms Lythgoe continued:
"The SNP student wing is of course disappointed that the situation could not be better for students in Scotland. We blame the lack of support for students from Labour and Lib Dems who refused to support the grants not loans initiative in the Parliament. This hypocrisy is typical of the Labour party. Labour isn't here to represent the electorate or act in their best interests; Labour is here to play a political game."
There is a bill in Parliament seeking to abolish the fee and in the meantime SAAS have an obligation to let people know that they are currently legally liable until such time as a Bill is passed to remove that legal liability and it would not be responsible for SAAS to do so otherwise.
We are currently holding a campaign to urge you to write to your MSP, or all Labour and Lib Dems MSPs if you feel strongly enough, to make sure that they support the Bill and the SNP by re-establishing free education in Scotland.
The legislation would cover:
· students who graduate this summer
· students currently in higher education
· students about to enter higher education this autumn
· all subsequent students
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