St Andrews students protest UK Government's 'disastrous' cuts
As the Holyrood election looms, student campaigners in St Andrews are highlighting concern over "disastrous" public spending cuts.
Members of St Andrews Against Cuts (STAND) are holding a "carnival" with events to underline the "key role" public services play in everyday life.
Those behind the PS We Love You campaign warn that moves being considered to slash budgets will cut too deep and too fast.
A spokeswoman said, "Timed to coincide with the last week of the Scottish Parliament election campaign, our carnival aims to celebrate public services.
"It features a range of activities, including poetry readings, talks, films and lectures from the Free University Of St Andrews which is open to all, with no tuition fees. The aim is to highlight the valuable work of public services in all our lives."
Events in the run-up to Thursday's poll include a photo exhibition staged by those involved in recent demonstrations against cuts in London.
- Writers Douglas Dunn, Chris Jones and Don Patterson will read a selection of their poems in the King James Library, starting at 7.30 tonight. Visit the STAND website for more information.
The spokeswoman said, "We want to underline the way in which public services touch many aspects of our lives. We believe they must be defended."
STAND fears that the education of the nation will suffer thanks to the swingeing cuts being proposed.
The spokeswoman said, "We are a broad-based group of staff and students formed in response to the current measures proposed and enacted by the government and decision-makers.
"Our aim is to confront the truly disastrous cuts proposals, and defend public services.
"STAND has grown out of widespread concern in response to the coalition's policies on education and ‘austerity' — and the speed at which they are being introduced."
She insisted that the message resonates throughout the student community, and added, "Despite a reputation as a conservative university, large numbers of students at St Andrews have recently protested against the tuition fee increases and are raging about the government's educational policies.
"Staff are not only concerned about their jobs as the effects of Scotland's reduced budget are felt, but also that areas such as humanities, robbed of state funding, will suffer."
02.54pm - 03.05.2011 David Robertson - Perth, Scotland Report This
It is my understanding that the SNP Government has pledged to continue their policy of no tuition fees and no endowment repayments. Surely demonstrating like this at the time of the Scottish elections will confuse the voting public about Scottish Government policy.
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