Students accuse Lib Dem MSP of 'betrayal' over top-up fees

Published on Monday 17 July 2006 11:47

STUDENTS are to target Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Pringle over what they claim is his "betrayal" over top-up fees.

They say he promised to oppose Scottish Executive plans for higher fees for medical students from south of the Border - but then voted in favour of the move.

Mr Pringle, who is defending a slender majority of 158 in Edinburgh South at next year's Scottish Parliament elections, denies he said he would definitely vote against the extra fees.

But leaders of the Edinburgh University Students' Association have produced a photograph in which the MSP posed with them to promote their campaign.

Eusa president Tim Goodwin said: "Mike Pringle supported our campaign and gladly posed for photos. He spoke to me on the phone two days before the vote and he said he was 'still on our side'. But then he voted with the Executive.

"As students, we were disgusted that one of our representatives could spend so long supporting us only to balk at the last minute and turn his back." The Executive decided to bring in higher fees for English medical students because the high number of students from south of the Border coming to study medicine in Scotland was denying places to Scots students.

And most of the English students were returning south after qualifying, leaving Scotland short of doctors. But student leaders argue there are other ways to tackle the problem and warn imposing higher fees for any group of students in Scotland could be the thin end of the wedge.

The order introducing the higher fees was passed by parliament last month by 66 votes to 56.

The pledge card which Mr Pringle and student leaders were photographed holding says: "Please don't stick a plaster over the Scottish higher education system by introducing variable fees for medicine. Stopping poorer students coming from other parts of the UK to study here will not address problems with the NHS.

"Voting for legislation on this would leave Scotland a heartbeat away from top-up fees and students weighed down with even more debt."

Mr Goodwin said a similar picture had been taken with SNP education spokeswoman and Lothians MSP Fiona Hyslop, who remained a strong critic of the medical fees plan throughout.

Mr Pringle said the picture had been taken before the Executive's consultation on the issue.

"We were not aware at that point of all the information that came forward as a result of the consultation," he said.

"At the time I was against any top-up fees of any sort, but when the information came back, I had to make a judgment.

"I had two constituents who were really upset because their children could not get into a medical school in Scotland despite having six A Highers. I'm still fundamentally opposed to the principle of top-up fees, but I think as far as medical faculties are concerned, it is a special case and we do need somehow to reserve more places for Scottish students.

"The students say this is the thin end of the wedge, but I don't agree. The Executive has said quite clearly that increased fees will only apply to medicine."

He said even a few weeks before the vote, he might have said he was still inclined to vote against the Executive.

But he denied he had said two days before the vote that he was going to oppose the order.

"I said I was still thinking about it. I had not made up my mind."