Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has accused the SNP of failing a generation of young people through cuts to college budgets. The Labour MP, who is standing to become her party's deputy leader, said the SNP was “slashing budgets for colleges in Scotland” while Labour was investing in further education in England. She made the comments as she highlighted the contrast between the two administrations during a visit to Scotland.
Phillipson, who has no control over education in Scotland due to devolution, criticised the Scottish Government's record on skills and opportunity. She said: “The SNP are failing a generation of young people. They are also failing to provide the skills Scotland urgently needs to grow its economy.” She also questioned the value placed on university places compared with college places, describing the disparity as unfair and in need of change.
Asked whether Labour would end free university tuition in Scotland, she said: “No absolutely not. There are differences between England and Scotland and those differences are long standing.” However, she pointed to Scotland's widening attainment gap, stating: “The SNP said they would close that gap and they haven’t done it.” She also highlighted the need for targeted maintenance grants for students from low-income households in England.
Phillipson, who grew up in Tyne and Wear and has a Scottish grandfather from Glasgow and Troon, said she wanted to help Anas Sarwar become First Minister. She said: “I want to be a campaigning voice at the cabinet table and I want to work to make sure Anas Sarwar is the next First Minister of Scotland.” She acknowledged Labour had made mistakes in its first year, including the winter fuel allowance, but stressed the need to unite the party and expose the SNP's record.
She also spoke of her personal commitment to tackling child poverty, saying she wanted every child across the UK to have opportunity. Her grandfather, who served in the RAF during World War Two, had spoken passionately about the Scottish education system, making it all the more disappointing to see its decline. Phillipson added that she was proud of the connections between the north of England and Scotland.
