SNP make £250m independence university research pledge

Education Secretary Mike Russell has pledged £250 million to make up for any shortfall in university research funding in an independent Scotland.

Scottish institutions won £257m from the Research Council last year and the SNP wants a common funding area with what remains of the UK to continue if there is a Yes vote.

But academics from all five of Scotland’s medical schools have said such a deal is unlikely and “fraught with difficulty”.

During a public meeting in Glasgow, Mr Russell said if any of the research funding bodies did not want to continue a UK-wide deal then the Scottish Government would plug any shortfall.

The Education Secretary also called on academics worried about funding to take a “step back” and think about the people whose “lives are affected by the lack of independence”.

Critics last night branded Mr Russell condescending and claimed he had “let the cat out of the bag” on research funding.

Mr Russell insisted the continuation of a single research area is the “sensible thing to do as it suits both sides”.

He said: “From my discussions and I’ve spoken to research councils and charities I’m confident that situation will prevail. But I’m also confident, given the resources, that we can make a guarantee that no one will suffer.

“If for some reason there is the view of a research council that doesn’t wish for this to happen, then we’ll make that money up and make sure there is a Scottish base for that research.”

Mr Russell added that with this “absolute guarantee” of resources, research scientists and academics need to “step back”.

He added: “Let’s think about the people in Scotland whose whole lives are affected by the lack of independence.”

A Better Together spokmesman said: “Mike Russell has finally let the cat out of the bag and made clear that independence would put research funding in Scotland at risk. It’s a risk that we just don’t need to take.

“This is typical of the attitude of nationalist ministers. They can’t comprehend the fact the majority of people in Scotland are saying no thanks to separation.”