SNP man in by-election accused of doing down university

Published on Sunday 19 July 2009 22:15

THE SNP's candidate for Glasgow North East has been accused of snobbery, after he made derisory remarks about one of the city's universities.

Former BBC journalist David Kerr claimed Glasgow Caledonian University, on the edge of the constituency, "does not have a reputation to tarnish". The statement emerged in a recording of a talk he gave to Catholic students at his alma mater, St Andrews University, in 2007.

Thousands of voters in the constituency he hopes to win from Labour attended Glasgow Caledonian.

The comments by Mr Kerr, who has already been criticised for suggesting that sectarianism is not a problem in Scotland, are being seen as a swipe at attempts to widen access to higher education to people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Yesterday, Mr Kerr, who was his party's fourth choice candidate, was condemned by the University and College Union (UCU), which accused him of "dangerous elitism".

Glasgow Caledonian University UCU president Vince Mills said: "Rather than denigrating the contribution of some universities, Mr Kerr should be fighting for the resources they need to flourish."

Mr Kerr's Labour opponent Willie Bain has called on him to apologise.

The Scottish Government has declined to answer whether Mr Kerr's views are representative of SNP ministers.

But Mr Kerr said: "Labour must be panicking to dig up what were obviously light-hearted remarks made affectionately and received in jest. Glasgow Caledonian does a fantastic job."