As Labour eyes a 2026 victory, the SNP has issued a stark warning to Anas Sarwar to resist his party’s proposed tuition fee increase, which they claim would swiftly place free tuition “on the chopping block” in Scotland.
Labour’s plan would see English tuition fees climb by 3.1% to £9,535—a move that SNP officials argue stands in direct opposition to the policy of free tuition implemented by the SNP in Scotland since 2007.
Keir Starmer, who once backed abolishing tuition fees, now appears set to reverse his stance, sparking fierce opposition from SNP leaders determined to protect Scotland’s education model.
The numbers reveal a concerning picture for students south of the border, with 1.8 million people in England and Wales burdened by student debt exceeding £50,000, according to recent figures.
Meanwhile, data from the Student Loans Company shows Scottish graduates leave university with the UK’s lowest debt levels, largely thanks to Scotland’s free tuition policy.
This new Labour proposal also appears to be gaining traction with Scottish Labour, whose finance spokesperson recently suggested they might “reintroduce some form of charges,” following their Westminster counterparts and fuelling SNP concerns that free tuition in Scotland could be at risk if Labour gains power.
SNP MSP George Adam didn’t mince words, emphasising his party’s pride in abolishing tuition fees and its impact on widening access to higher education across Scotland.
“SNP policies like free tuition have changed lives and are on the line in 2026.
“We are clear that a vote for the SNP is a vote to keep university tuition free for all and build on the phenomenal progress we’ve made.”
Adam further criticised Labour’s support for Brexit and now their decision to raise tuition fees, adding:
“This decision reflects their willingness to sacrifice young people’s future—something even Boris Johnson didn’t do.”
The SNP sees Labour’s tuition fee increase as a step backward and a potential barrier to higher education for countless young people.
Adam’s challenge to Sarwar was unequivocal: stand up to Starmer and commit to preserving free tuition in Scotland, a policy the SNP considers fundamental to educational equality.
With the stakes high for Scotland’s students, the SNP is positioning itself as the defender of accessible education, urging voters to choose free tuition over the financial hurdles Labour’s proposed policies might bring.
