Scottish independence: No tuition fees ever, says Sturgeon

Scotland’s deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will never support bringing in tuition fees for Scottish university students.

The SNP politician said her party would “always protect free education because it is one of the most important things any government can ever protect”.

Labour MP Jim Murphy told the BBC’s independence referendum debate education policy was already devolved.

He said Scotland already had free higher education.

However, Mr Murphy could not say what his own party’s position would be in the future.

The current Scottish policy of free tuition in higher education applies to students from Scotland and from most of the European Union.

But students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland do pay fees similar to those south of the border.

The Scottish government has proposed to continue the policy if voters back independence in the 18 September referendum, and Scotland and the rest of the UK become separate EU member states.

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