“I think the British people are ready for us to move on. To move beyond division and come together. To move beyond uncertainty into a brighter future. That is the chance that MPs of all parties will have tomorrow night. And for our country’s sake, I urge them to take it.” – Prime Minister Theresa May Continue reading Time to move on? Prime Minister’s final appeal on eve of crucial Brexit vote
Scottish Seecretary David Mundell has urged MPs to get behind the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal. Continue reading Scottish Secretary urges MPs to vote for PM’s Brexit deal
Letter calls for MPs to support new referendum on EU membership in ‘crucial week for future of Scotland.’
Continue reading Holyrood urges MPs to dismiss UK Brexit options
Deidre Brock MP has called for the UK Government to scrap plans for EU citizens living in the UK to have to apply to the ‘Settled Status’ scheme and pay a fee in order to have the right to remain here. Continue reading Brock calls for scrapping of ‘settled status’ scheme for EU citizens
In his New Year Message, Scottish Secretary David Mundell has set out that 2019 needs to be a year of compromise to get Brexit sorted. Speaking just ahead of the turn of the year, Mr Mundell said: Continue reading 2019 New Year Message from Secretary of State for Scotland
Campaigning organisation Compass is calling for a Citizen’s Assembly to extricate the country from a mess politicians seem incapable of resolving: Continue reading Brexit: Call for Citizens’ Assembly
Minister takes Scotland’s case to Brussels on eve of Westminster Brexit vote
Leading figures in education, research and science are taking the message to Brussels that Scotland’s universities remain open and welcoming.
Minister for Higher Education and Science Richard Lochhead will lead the Scottish delegation. The team will meet with EU partners and make the case that strong collaboration with researchers in EU countries and the rest of the world is hugely important for the future.
The Minister will underline that Scotland will continue to welcome EU citizens to study or work in our universities.
Universities Scotland estimate Scotland’s universities are worth £11 billion gross to the economy. Scotland’s researchers and businesses are highly competitive when it comes to winning EU research and innovation funding from Horizon 2020 and other programmes.
Speaking ahead of today’s meeting, Mr Lochhead said: “Scotland’s global reputation for ground-breaking research and innovation faces unprecedented risks.
“The message we are taking is simple: Scotland’s universities and research institutions are open and welcoming, and we maintain a strong commitment to research collaboration across Europe.
“The Scottish research community is standing together. We know that Scotland’s research has been strengthened by EU citizens working in Scotland, our membership of the European Union and our active participation in the Horizon 2020 programme. The benefits that such participation has provided cannot be underestimated and we will not stand by and see these benefits eroded and obstacles erected that undermine our future.”
Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland commented: “The quality of the research and eduction Scottish higher education delivers is strengthened because of the partnerships we have across the European Union.
“Those relationships are deeply important to us and that remains the case whatever the outcome of the Brexit process. It’s a message we need to keep repeating so it is not lost amidst the noise and chaos going on elsewhere and that’s why it is good to be out in Brussels this week.”
The delegation will consist of:
The Scottish Government published “Scotland’s Place in Europe: Science and Research” in November as part of the suite of papers in this series, illustrating the importance and value of research collaboration with the rest of Europe.
A joint statement was also issued last month from colleges, universities, trade unions and the Scottish Government, setting out a united approach to protecting the college and university sectors in Scotland from the worst effects of Brexit.
Scotland has proportionally more EU staff and students than the rest of the UK:
On average, 10% of Scottish universities’ research income comes from the EU.
Scotland has benefited from 558 million euros from the Horizon 2020 programme and 64 million euros from the Erasmus programme.
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever.
Erasmus is an EU programme for education which allows young people to study abroad, and encourages UK organisations to collaborate with international partners.
The Scottish Government has already confirmed that eligible EU students currently studying here or starting a degree this year or next will continue to be eligible for free tuition.
Protecting public services: Scottish budget will prioritise health and education spending, says Finance Secretary
Investing in public services and growing the economy will be prioritised in spending plans to help protect Scotland’s prosperity as far as is possible in the face of continued uncertainty over Brexit, according to the Scottish government. Continue reading Budget “will deliver a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged Prime Minister Theresa May to change course to avoid an “utterly disastrous” no-deal Brexit if the Prime Minister’s plans are rejected by MPs in a crunch vote on 11 December – but Theresa May says the First Minister should listen to Scotland’s business leaders. Continue reading May tells Sturgeon: “Listen to the voices”
