MSP candidates struggled to commit to tackling Scotland’s higher education funding crisis at a panel debate.
An Aberdeen University hustings event for Scottish Parliament hopefuls was held by Prosper, a business group whose membership includes the likes of Shell, Royal Bank of Scotland and University of Aberdeen.
Principal Edwards welcomed attendees, raising a few chuckles when he referenced the historical Westminster seat shared by Aberdeen and Glasgow universities in the 19th century as an example of Aberdeen’s tradition of debate.
During the Q&A, The Gaudie News Editor Innes Paton challenged candidates on their commitment to Scottish universities facing funding crises. The day prior, Aberdeen University bosses had rejected a job security deal with striking staff.
Labour candidate Dr Matthew Lee, who studied a history PhD at Aberdeen and was a UCU member, said the funding crisis was “a terrible shame” and urged the Scottish government to increase its funding allocation per Scottish student.
Reform UK’s Prof James Wyllie said that if elected to Holyrood, he will contribute ideas as a retired international relations lecturer at Aberdeen. He said universities should be more effective to save cash, suggesting that degrees could be shortened from four to three years or introducing Saturday morning classes.
Liberal Democrat Michael Turvey drew upon his experience in the oil and gas sector, emphasising the value of parties coming together to solve industrial disputes. He criticised government bureaucracy for presenting obstacles to international students.
Greens’ candidate Maggie Chapman expressed support for academic staff on picket lines, claiming that she previously stopped over a hundred redundancies as Aberdeen University Rector during her first university court meeting. She made the case for universities as a common good, where “staff working conditions are students’ learning conditions”.
Meters away from Principal Edwards, she compared Aberdeen’s lack of transparency with Dundee’s, suggesting that the university failed to engage with UCU in good faith.
Conservative Liam Kerr merely said he would act in line with the government’s Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities. He associated himself with Chapman’s comments, met with laughs in the crowd. He said that universities in crisis are “a function of a lack of funding.”
Gillian Martin of the SNP pointed to current government work to take reviews forward. She said, “We cannot have any funding issue impede undergraduates’ access to free education,” adding that Scottish universities cannot end up like in England, where working-class young people cannot get a degree without incurring debt.
Ms Martin, a former cabinet minister for energy, defended the university’s autonomy in managing industrial disputes. Asked whether the Scottish government is alarmed about university funding, she said, “I am not going to divulge what conversations happen in the cabinet.”
At the debate, the six Holyrood candidates also sparred on energy and health.
Greens’ rep Ms Chapman raised concerns about “unequal” profit-sharing by energy firms, labelling oil and gas as exploitative industries. She argued for community ownership of energy production.
Libdem Mr Turvey challenged Ms Martin on Scotland’s lack of grid capacity. The SNP cabinet member replied that Scotland needs more devolved powers.
When Conservative Mr Kerr suggested that the Scottish government should build nuclear power, Ms Martin responded that nuclear plans without a plan for grid development is “la la land”.
Prof Wyllie echoed Reform UK bosses, promising he would “completely abandon net stupid zero,” with no subsidies going to renewables.
Oil and gas have been subsidised, Ms Chapman pointed out, so why not renewables. Labour’s Dr Lee joined in attacks on Reform.
“Am I sitting here with a bunch of communists?” replied Prof Wyllie, before clarifying he was being “tongue-in-cheek”.
Mr Kerr defended renewables, quipping, “Let’s have foreign wars impact people, let’s have workers turned over when the oil price is low, forever and amen.”
SNP’s Ms Martin said she supports new oil and gas explorations on fields with existing licenses while also reducing reliance on volatility of the industry. She said, “We would support new investments if it passed climate compatibility checkpoints.
“New fields can have new technologies which can reduce emissions. The North Sea has more to give.”
Dr Lee said he would not grant new licenses, and struggled to answer on whether Jackdaw, an offshore rig, should be approved.
Moderator David Shanks pressed candidates on approving oil and gas developments, but failed to present any questions on climate change.
Concluding the energy debate, the ex-BBC broadcaster moved on the discussion to healthcare.
Mr Turvey emphasised preventative work while Ms Chapman pinned inequality as the primary driver of ill health. Mr Kerr emphasised mental health.
Ms Martin talked about social care, expanding screening for bowel cancer after losing her sister, and plans for GP walk-in clinics.
Mr Turvey opposed SNP plans for walk-in GP clinics, criticising the government for its lack of consultation with GPs.
Defending SNP health policy, Ms Martin suggested that NHS Grampian is mismanaged rather than underfunded.
The evening was concluded by Port of Aberdeen executive Bob Sanguinetti, a representative of Prosper group, who thanked attendees for coming.
