University places

Universities Minister Richard Lochhead announces “with a heavy heart” that “free” education for new EU students will end from 2021. I sympathise, because it makes me feel giddy just observing SNP U-turns, so performingthemmustbeconsiderably more dizzying.

In 2011, when Mike Russell was in charge, he lobbied the EU complaining that the rules on tuition fees were “unfair” and pleaded that Scotland be allowed to “charge appropriate fees on the same basis to students from outwith Scotland”. This was in a bid to “discourage academic tourism”. So when EU rules dictated we had to grant “free” tuition to EU students the SNP had to agree under protest.

Then, following Brexit, when these rules would no longer apply and the SNP was free to implement its 2011 policy, John Swinney pronounced a change of heart. The SNP would choose to continue voluntarily with the regime to which they had previously had such strong objections. The formerly discouraged “academic tourists” were now and for the foreseeable future to be welcomed with open arms.

A magnanimous gesture indeed – at an annual cost to the Scottish taxpayer of £93 million. Now the wheel has turned full circle again. Well, at least the music has hopefully stopped. However, says Mr Lochhead, there will likely be an increase in the number

of Scottish students gaining a place. He may well regret this piece of spin since it is a clear admission that the current system has been unfair in denying places to highly qualified Scottish students.

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh