Cole-Hamilton calls for Edinburgh university support amid £140 million financial black hole

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called on the Scottish Government to engage with Edinburgh University, after University principal Professor Sir Peter Mathieson announced plans to reduce staff numbers to plug a £140 million financial black hole.

Professor Mathieson said “radical university-wide actions” were needed to make the savings, which will lead to “a smaller staff base and lower operating costs”.

The university declined to confirm the number of staff reductions and whether these will include compulsory redundancies.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"This is a bitter blow for staff, students and the city of Edinburgh.

"The university is not only a major draw but a significant employer. Cutting staff numbers risks having knock on effects for years to come in a whole host of fields.

“There will be an awful lot of households in my constituency and across the city worrying as a result of this announcement, especially when the university has failed to confirm the number of staff reductions and whether these will include compulsory redundancies.

"I will be urgently reaching out to the Principal to seek further clarity around the university’s plans. I would also urge the Scottish Government to engage with the university to see what additional support it may be able to provide.”

"This feels like a step back at a time when the UK should be doubling and tripling down on our strengths of which our world-class universities are certainly one.

"Today's announcement is damning of both the SNP who have failed to deliver a sustainable footing for higher education for years, the Conservatives who presided over years of economic chaos and the Labour party whose increase in national insurance contributions is playing merry hell with businesses and organisations up and down the country."