Universities should be first in line for a special Brexit deal, says a leading principal in Scotland.
Sir Tim O’Shea, who represents Universities Scotland, said he would need divine support if the City of London or the car industry were to get exemptions from a “hard” Brexit ahead of the higher education sector.
Reports have suggested that Theresa May’s cabinet is looking at retaining EU single market access for London’s financial services and has reassured Nissan that trading conditions in its Sunderland car plant would be unaffected by the UK leaving.
Sir Tim, who is also the principal at Edinburgh University, said that Scottish institutions depend on attracting the best talent from across the EU.
“The current situation is that British and Scottish universities have been damaged a bit by the Home Office visa restrictions,” he told the Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday.
“If Brexit isn’t appropriately negotiated then it could be damaged in a very serious way.
“Yesterday, the PM said helpfully that perhaps a special sort of relationship might be necessary for workers in the City and for highly skilled labour in the car industry.
“So God help me. If the City and the car industry deserve a special deal then universities (do too).
“They are more dependent on the mobility of highly-skilled labour than any other sector.”
A UK Government spokesman said there is a “long-established system” in place here that “supports, and therefore attracts, the brightest minds, at all stages of their careers”.
“The PM has been clear that she wants to protect the status of EU nationals already living here, and the only circumstances in which that wouldn’t be possible is if British citizens’ rights in European member states were not protected in return,” she added.
“We are about to begin these negotiations and it would be wrong to set out further unilateral positions in advance.”
