The Tory government's radical shift in the public contribution to universities is not one we will follow. The price and debt barrier being introduced in Westminster is a desertion of a government's first duty - to its citizens. We all benefit from an educational system that is fair and open, if not for individuals now, then in future and for their children and families.
Holyrood was conceived on the understanding that in these circumstances Scotland has the fundamental right to govern ourselves differently - however grudgingly this has been accepted by occupants of Number Ten. The Scottish Parliament debated tuition fees twice last year. On both occasions they were rejected.
In Edinburgh it has been Labour who have, even after leaving office, continued to cling most strongly to the idea of tuition fees
Scotland's new green paper on the future of higher education takes this principle and this rejection of fees as its premise. The Barnett Formula however works from the alternative premise that any radical shift in the state's role undertaken by the UK government automatically carries over to Scotland. For devolution truly to exist, the power to take a different course in devolved areas must exist on more than just the paper of the Scotland Act.
Our decision to go down a different route on higher education from the rest of the UK has caused controversy outside Scotland. It must be said, if Scotland was simply given the powers over its own taxation, this controversy would massively diminish.
For now, with the limits our current arrangements impose, Scotland's parties face a university challenge. Our debate has a distinctive tenor. In Edinburgh it has been Labour who have, even after leaving office, continued to cling most strongly to the idea of tuition fees, only in recent weeks lurching confusedly and not wholly consistently in the direction of some form of graduate tax. In the Scottish National Party we are developing the detail of proposals, in partnership with the sector, which will preserve the public responsibility for higher education.
The public have a right to know the costed plans of both parties, and next May it is the public who will decide.
Michael Russell is cabinet secretary for education and lifelong learning and MSP for South of Scotland
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