Kevin Lang leads calls for more student support as LibDems back minimum income guarantee

12.00.00pm GMT Sat 14th Mar 2009

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have backed new policies to support students during the economic downturn at their conference in Perth. Speaking during the debate, local LibDem Kevin Lang said that more needed to be done to prevent a crisis in student hardship.

The motion, which was supported overwhelmingly by the conference, was moved by Liberal Youth Scotland and condemned the SNP Scottish Government for letting down students by breaking its clear manifesto pledge to "dump the debt" and replace all loans with grants.

The motion went on to propose a set of policies to help students including a 'minimum income guarantee' for full time higher education students of £7,000 per annum, to be met through combinations of grants, loans and parental contributions.

Addressing conference during the debate, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith, Kevin Lang said,

"The SNP Scottish Government has not just let down students - it has been nothing short of a complete and utter betrayal.

"We all remember the SNP campaign at the last Scottish Parliament elections - a phrase that was emblazoned on every balloon, every sticker, every postcard and every beer mat handed out in college and university campuses across Scotland - vote SNP to dump the debt. But in office, rather that dumping the debt, they dumped their policy. In doing so, the SNP dumped any credibility they had with students.

"We need a radical new policies need to be agreed to avert an educational disaster. And the minimum income guarantee will help provide just that. It will provide a safety net, an assurance that no students' academic success would be threatened by financial hardship.

Kevin went on to argue that the students of today would be central to helping Scotland and the UK out of the current economic recession. He said

"If we are to survive this economic downturn - if we are to come out of this and return to economic prosperity - we need educated and skilled people to graduate from our colleges and universities in Scotland and across the UK. We will need the graduates of this year and the years ahead to play a central role in the economic recovery.

"As Liberal Democrats, we know that investing in education and investing in students is a sound investment for the long term. Bank bailouts may have staved off a short term economic crisis but failing to properly resource the doctors, the scientists, the teachers, the businessmen and women of the future, this surely ensures an economic crisis for the long term."