‘May must pursue special deal for universities too’

Universities should be first in line for a special Brexit deal, says a leading principal in Scotland.

Prof Sir Tim O’Shea, who represents Universities Scotland, said it would be wrong for the car industry or London to get exemptions from a “hard” Brexit ahead of the higher education sector.

Sir Tim, principal at Edinburgh University, said Scottish institutions depend on attracting the best talent from across the EU – more than any other sector.

“Yesterday, the Prime Minister said helpfully that perhaps a special sort of relationship might be necessary for workers in the City and for highly skilled labour in the car industry,” he told the Scottish Affairs Committee yesterday.

“So God help me. If the City and the car industry deserve a special deal then universities (do too). They are more dependent on the mobility of highly-skilled labour than any other sector.”

A UK Government spokeswoman said: “The PM has been clear that she wants to protect the status of EU nationals already living here, and the only circumstances in which that wouldn’t be possible is if British citizens’ rights in European member states were not protected in return.

“We are about to begin these negotiations and it would be wrong to set out further unilateral positions in advance.”

PM wants to protect EU nationals.