UCU comment on the Scottish Government's draft budget for 2025/26

Commenting on the announcement today (Wednesday) by Scottish Government cabinet secretary for finance, Shona Robison, of the Scottish draft budget for 2025/26 and the impact on Scottish higher education, Mary Senior, Scotland official UCU, said: 'Any new money coming to universities is welcome but this falls short of what is needed at a time when higher education funding is under unprecedented strain.  Ministers are happy to take the credit for the successes of our universities, and for popular policies like free tuition, but they need to back that up by funding the sector properly. 

'Ultimately, this is another disappointing budget, on the back of many others and is likely to increase the pressure on jobs.  UCU will continue to push the Scottish Government to fund universities and will fight to defend jobs wherever they are threatened.'