Sarwar accuses Government of being ‘snooty and elitist’ over college cuts

The Scottish Government is “snooty and elitist”, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said after a report showed a 20% cut to college funding.

Audit Scotland’s findings, released on Thursday, showed further education funding had dropped by a fifth in real terms between 2021-22 and 2025-26.

Colleges have not received increases to cover rising inflation in recent years, the report said, meaning savings had to be found elsewhere.

At First Minister’s Questions, Mr Sarwar said: “A 20% real-terms cut to colleges over the last five years, 30,000 fewer Scots getting places and a cash crisis putting jobs, institutions and places at risk.

“Can I ask John Swinney, when Scotland needs a new generation of skilled workers, why are apprenticeships and colleges of less value to the SNP than universities?”

Responding, the First Minister said that was “not the case”, adding that 25,000 people had started an apprenticeship last year and teaching funding had increased by 2.6% last year, along with a 5% hike in capital funding.

“Combined with the investment that the Scottish Government is making in apprenticeships and also making in the college sector, we are investing in the skills of the future and that’s exactly what the Government should do,” he said.

In what quickly became a testy exchange at First Minister’s Questions, Mr Sarwar said livelihoods were being “derailed by SNP incompetence”.

He said: “Colleges cut, courses scrapped, futures denied.

“So why does this snooty, elitist SNP Government refuse to recognise the value of Scotland’s colleges?”

Mr Swinney said it was not a “great look” for a “state school boy” such as himself to be lectured on elitism, alluding to Mr Sarwar’s education at the private Hutchesons Grammar in Glasgow.

The First Minister – growing visibly angry – added that Scotland was the only part of the UK where child poverty was reducing, despite the Government having missed its interim targets on the issue.

He added: “93% of pupils are going to positive destinations after school and when it comes to big, lofty commitments, I stood beside Mr Sarwar, who told me there would be hundreds of millions of pounds to save Grangemouth and Grangemouth got absolutely nothing and is closed.

“Mr Sarwar should go home and think again.”

The UK Government offered £200 million for the refinery before it closed, with the Scottish Government also paying in £25 million, to secure future work on the site.

The issue was also raised by Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay on Thursday, who said: “SNP cuts mean fewer people going to college, learning new skills and advancing their careers.

“Reducing funding to colleges directly harms economic growth, which is something the SNP don’t seem to understand.

“So, will John Swinney commit to reversing this cut for the good of young Scots and for the good of Scotland’s economy?”

Mr Swinney reiterated the cash terms increases to funding in the last budget, adding: “This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that we invest in our college sector, to support students to move on to the positive destinations.”

The First Minister also said Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth was actively working to halt the potential closure of the Forth Valley College campus in Alloa, Clackmannanshire.

Mr Sarwar said one student had described the move as “devastating” while Mr Swinney said the situation had been “uppermost in my mind” following engagement with local MSP Keith Brown.

“The Education Secretary is actively involved on my behalf and at my instruction to find a way through this that will protect the future of the Alloa campus,” the First Minister said.

“For me, the Alloa campus is essential because it is located in an area of deprivation in our country.

“We must maximise access to learning, that is what my political agenda is about – it’s about ensuring that local communities that live in deprivation have access to learning facilities to enhance their prospects, and that’s what the Government is working to resolve today.”