A Labour MP who once branded the Scottish Government’s university tuition fee policy “racist” has urged Jim Murphy to go further with his free higher education policy.
Jim McGovern, who represents Dundee West, once again reiterated his belief that the current system is discriminatory against English, Welsh and Northern Irish people.
Scottish and EU students have their tuition paid for them north of the border but that does not apply to those from the rest of UK, who are charged.
Scottish Labour leader Mr Murphy has pledged not to reintroduce fees if he was to become First Minister in 2016.
Mr McGovern, who has consistently voted against fees at Westminster, said: “I stand by my belief that to offer free tuition to Scots and students from the other 26 European Union states but at the same time to not offer it to English, Welsh or Northern Irish students studying in Scotland is unfair.
“I of course support Jim Murphy’s wider plan to give working class kids the best start in life, but I also hope that Scottish Labour will in the future aspire to and work towards delivering equality by extending free tuition to students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, ultimately delivering free tuition for all students across the European Union studying in Scotland as a result.
“With two excellent universities in my constituency, I get to see the incredible benefits that a vibrant student population can bring, and I believe that the drive and determination to pursue higher education, particularly considering the challenges that come with it, is something that should be encouraged wherever possible.
“Consequently, extending free tuition is a policy that I aspire to, and it shows that although the Scottish Labour Party is a broad church of different ideas and viewpoints, we remain united in the cause of democratic socialism and we are a party that does not have to resort to shutting down debates or constructive criticism.”
The Scottish Government has consistently said it needs to charge students from the rest of the UK because of charges of up to £9,000 south of the border.