Expensive uni bill

There is an acute shortage of doctors, nurses and teachers in Scotland. This shortage is effecting patients and our children’s futures.

The Snp-dominated government wanted to ‘get-one-over’ on Westminster and introduced free university education for those living in Scotland but not the English living south of the Border.

The scottish parliament then went overboard by including EU students in this free education to curry favour with the EU. With 13,450 EU students, this policy has cost Scottish taxpayers more than £87 million a year.

Even worse is that EU students at present in Scottish universities will get their fees paid even after Brexit. This will cost £300 million.

Total cost of this gesture is over £750 million.

The current medical and teacher shortages would not be as bad if politicians had laid down conditions before granting free university education.

Education should be free to all but with this should come with responsibility and a commitment to the country which pays the bill. There should have been a contract that on graduation the person, including EU nationals, would spend five years working in Scotland and thus give back to the community which paid for their free education.

CLARK CROSS Springfield Road, Linlithgow