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The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK university tuition fees could rise again
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is considering allowing universities to raise tuition fees annually in line with inflation to improve their financial stability. This follows a previous announcement that tuition fees, frozen at £9,250 since 2017, would increase in September 2025 based on the Retail Price Index. The proposal addresses concerns about the financial health of universities, with a report indicating 40 per cent of English institutions may face budget deficits this year. A significant factor contributing to universities' financial struggles is a decline in the number of international students. Labour's position on tuition fees has evolved, with Keir Starmer retracting his pledge to abolish them, now seeking a "fairer solution" due to affordability concerns.
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sturgeon: I was not victim of ‘coercive control' by former mentor Salmond
Former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon rejected claims she had been the victim of coercive control by her predecessor Alex Salmond, although she said she wished she had done more to stand up against his 'bullying' of others. She also said that her confidence could be 'knocked' by disapproval from Mr Salmond – saying her former boss and one-time mentor 'probably played on that a little bit'. And while she said she had heard rumours of 'consensual affairs', she had no knowledge of any 'inappropriate sexual behaviour on his part'. The former SNP leader spoke about her relationship with Mr Salmond as she appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday. While she said they had an 'incredibly successful partnership' at one point, their relationship broke down after allegations against Mr Salmond emerged. The former first minister went on trial on a series of sexual assault charges in 2020, with this resulting in Mr Salmond being acquitted of all the charges against him. Speaking about him to broadcaster Kirsty Wark, Ms Sturgeon said: 'I did not have knowledge of inappropriate behaviour on his part, any inappropriate sexual behaviour.' However, she said: 'I heard rumours over the years about affairs, consensual affairs. I took the view, rightly or wrongly, that that was none of my business, what consenting adults get up to is their business.' Pressing the former first minister on her relationship with her predecessor, Ms Wark said that Ms Sturgeon's newly published memoirs, Frankly, portrayed Mr Salmond as 'almost Svengali like'. The journalist added: 'In a way, there's almost like a thread of coercive control at some times in this book from Alex Salmond.' Ms Sturgeon rejected this, saying she 'wouldn't describe it as that'. She said Mr Salmond, who died in October 2024, had been 'an incredibly strong, incredibly charismatic individual', adding that for much of her life 'he was a force for good'. Speaking about him, Ms Sturgeon said: 'He encouraged me to reach beyond what I would have considered my abilities to be, he pushed me on. 'I once said, ages ago, that he believed in me before I believed in myself.' But she added that 'his approval mattered to me and his disapproval knocked my confidence'. Ms Sturgeon continued: 'Latterly, he probably played on that a little bit.' Ms Wark suggested that Mr Salmond had 'definitely undermined' Ms Sturgeon 'a lot of the time'. The former first minister, however, told her: 'He also bolstered me a lot of the time.' Recalling Mr Salmond, Ms Sturgeon said that to describe him as a bully 'is maybe putting it too strongly', but she added that 'he could behave in a bullying manner'. Asked if she challenged his behaviour, the former first minister stated: 'I don't think I did it enough, but yes, I did. 'I would on occasion, people would have seen me do it, when he was giving the hairdryer treatment to whatever member of staff, I would say, 'enough Alex'.' But she added: 'I wish I had done it more.' After she took over as leader of the SNP, Mr Salmond had advised her not to keep her then husband, Peter Murrell, in his post as chief executive of the party. At the time, Ms Sturgeon rejected this, with Mr Murrell only stepping down from the role in March 2023 – the month after Ms Sturgeon announced her decision to step down as first minister and SNP leader. She said: 'I can look back now and say, maybe, I should have taken a different decision. 'That is something I probably got wrong.' The couple have now separated and, in March this year, the former SNP chief executive appeared in court charged with embezzlement following a police investigation into party finances, However, Ms Sturgeon insisted that she 'did not think' her decision to keep her then-husband in his party role was the start of the the 'fissure' in her relationship with Mr Salmond. 'I don't think that created any tension between us,' she said.
Telegraph
23 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Bankrupt Birmingham Council playing at foreign policy with money it doesn't have
Birmingham City Council - of bankruptcy fame - was back in the news last night. Not for sorting out its finances, but for ' lighting the Library of Birmingham green and white to mark the eve of 77th anniversary of Pakistan's independence day on the 14th August. ' Of all the councils I have been reporting and writing on over my entire career, Birmingham City truly stands out. Endless reports of ineptitude, inefficiency and mismanagement make headlines, while the Council raises taxes, cuts services, yet continues to hand out golden hellos to new staff. The Council appears to be gripped by an endemic lack of accountability, as a former boss walks away with £469,000 in pay and the number of staff earning over £100,000 triples in three years at the authority, while 'cat-sized' rats torment its residents. I asked a press officer at the Council how much the lighting up of the library had cost. The numbers weren't readily available, but they provided this statement: 'This week the council will light the Library of Birmingham to celebrate both Pakistan and Indian independence days, followed by the marking of VJ Day, which will also include commemorations and the raising of a new union flag at the Council House. 'The Library is often lit to mark occasions and to raise awareness for charity events, at minimal cost, as we feel it is important for communities that we mark special events and commemorations.' A degree of irritation and incredulity was expressed at my suggestion that the Council's residents and my readers might be interested in the amount being spent on celebrating the independence of foreign countries while the authorities struggled to provide basic services to Birminghamites. And this is exactly where the problem lies. Those who run and work at councils up and down the country appear to have a fundamental inability to understand why taxpayers might take an interest and ask questions about how their hard-earned cash is spent, however 'minimal' the cost. Why should the independence of Pakistan and India be celebrated by an English council, and a bankrupt one at that? Out of 57 Commonwealth countries, 52 were former British colonies or territories. Should the council be celebrating the independence of all these nations, as well as the 4th of July? Incidentally, it is Falklands Day today. In the absurd world view of the bosses of Birmingham City Council foreign countries appear to have a greater claim on taxpayer-funded celebrations than an actual UK territory.
