Student finance goes nationalist in a four-way UK split. Can it last?
So devolution looks like producing four different solutions to the problems of student funding, at least in the short term. The latest from Scotland is to charge strangers from the rest of UK so that young Scots can continue to enjoy a no fees regime in their native land.
The money follows Welsh students anywhere in the UK, as Dewi celebrates and recommends NI follow. Iain McWhirter may be right, that the SNP may take a political trick with this but I just don’t believe that some of the the poorer parts of the UK can hold out against charging their own on the long run, although perhaps on a lower tariff than the proposed English levels.
Alex Salmond’s economic advisers are surely right. This may be the students’ hour but just wait for louder calls on the public purse as unemployment climbs higher and the squeeze on social care grips tighter.
Topic: Government, Politics, Society and Culture
Region: England, EU, Northern Ireland, Scotland, UK, Wales
Quite how long Middle-England-Man will cough up to both prop up the colonies and pay for them to get a better deal than he gets himself will be interesting.
I’m actually not celebrating Brian – I don’t think it’s rational economic behaviour for Wales to pay fees to institutions in other countries. I think the policy should apply to institutions in Wales – it makes more economic sense to subsidise English students studying in Wales than Welsh students studying in England.
Newsflash for Itwas SammyMcNally whatdoneit – The economic facts show that Scotland has in fact been subsidising England,particularly the South East,for several years,and that’s not even taking oil revenue into account! Before you go bumping your gums,at least try to know what you’re talking about!