THE principal of Glasgow University said the Scottish Government’s current inability to guarantee membership of the European Union in an independent Scotland is “not a concern”.
Anton Muscatelli and other top education figures met Deputy First Minster John Swinney, Scotland’s Brexit Minister Mike Russell and Further Education, Higher Education and Science Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville for a discussion on the impact of Brexit on higher education.
Following the meeting at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh, Mr Russell warned that without freedom of movement there are “huge dangers ahead for Scottish higher education”.
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He said “information” on Scotland’s membership of the EU would “come
along as the UK’s position becomes clear in the negotiation and that’s set against the independence offering”, adding: “I’m a lifelong enthusiast for Europe, I believe in membership of the EU and the First Minister has pointed out that membership of the EU has been SNP policy for a long time.”
Asked if he was concerned about the Scottish Government being currently unable to guarantee EU membership for an independent Scotland, Mr Muscatelli replied: “Speaking personally, that is not a concern”.
He added: “We have some of the best universities in the world here, five in the top 200, that’s what we have to defend whatever the constitutional debate over the next two years.”
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