Stevenson & Martin: SNP to Protect Students from Tory Taxes

Tory "Ideological Obsession" Would Raise Next to Nothing in Next Parliament
SNP candidate for Banffshire & Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson and SNP candidate for Aberdeenshire East Gillian Martin have re-affirmed the party’s commitment to free education as Tory plans to tax students £6000 for a degree were exposed.

Analysis of the Tories’ plans to hit students with a tuition tax shows that the plan would raise next to nothing in the next Parliament, but risks putting students off going to university and would end the principle of free education.

The analysis shows that instead of raising £100m over the Parliament as the Tories originally claimed, it could bring in as little as £200,000.

A re-elected SNP Government will continue to protect free higher education.

Commenting, SNP candidate for Banffshire & Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson said:

“This scheme is less about funding universities and colleges and more about the Tories’ ideological obsession with introducing fees.

“It will raise almost nothing in the next five years but what it will do is put people from poorer backgrounds off going to university.”

SNP candidate for Aberdeenshire East Gillian Martin added:

“Since the old back-door fees were abolished, the number of graduates from poorer backgrounds has risen by almost a third. That would be at serious risk if the Tories had their way.

“We will never introduce tuition fees, either upfront or via the back door. Going to university should be based on ability to learn not ability to pay.”

Stevenson Visits Craigewan Court

SNP candidate for Banffshire & Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson has paid a visit to the newly-built Craigewan Court development in Peterhead.

Craigewan Court is a purpose built, extra care needs development with 10 self-contained one bedroom flats, staff accommodation and office space, communal areas and an activity room. The facility was built with funding from Aberdeenshire Council and the Scottish Government.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:

“I was pleased to be able to visit Craigewan Court and see the very high standard of accommodation for myself and meet some of the staff involved.

“This development has been made possible with some very welcome funding from the Scottish Government and the local authority, providing much-needed social housing in the area, as well as helping to renew an important area on the edge of Peterhead Town Centre.”

Stevenson Commends Circo Modo Performers at Awards Ceremony

SNP candidate for Banffshire & Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson has commended the young people involved in Circo Modo.

Mr Stevenson was speaking at last night’s awards ceremony at Peterhead’s Rescue Hall where he presented the Saltire Awards to some of the young performers.

Modo Matters to celebrate the awards, achievements and accreditations of our participants and volunteers.

In recognition of the achievements of Modo's participants and volunteers, over 200 Saltire Awards, Dynamic Youth Awards, Youth Achievement Awards and Young Aberdeenshire Volunteer Awards were presented.

The evening also featured short circus performances by some of the participants

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:

“Circo Modo, under the leadership of Martin Danziger and his team, have done sterling work in the community and given a whole range of opportunities to young people who may not otherwise have had the chance to develop some of the skills they now have.

“Listening to some of the performers relate their story on stage, it was striking how many of these young people have been given confidence by their involvement in Modo which they simply didn’t have before.

“All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening. I even came away with an invitation to learn how to perform as a fire-eater. I will consider that offer very carefully!”