I don't understand how the rioters are focussing on breaking the law and the money aspect and totally ignoring the one way they COULD win the fight...

[Alambil]

which would be to take the case through the courts on the grounds of intrinsic racism.

It has been written that Scottish students will not be charged this amount, neither will Welsh students. Foreign students studying in either Wales or Scotland will not be charged, but English students WILL be, whether they study in England, Scotland or Wales.

That is racist - they're segregating and "punishing" English residents and that is illegal.

WHY are the rioters not picking up on this?

[DuelingFanio]

It's nothing to do with race. You can live in Scotland or Wales and not be Welsh or Scottish but still take advantage of the system in Wales and Scotland.

[colditz]

Because your country of birth is not necessarily your 'race'.

Who's betting people will mysteriously start moving to wales and scotland when their eldest hits 17?

[Mowiol]

Foreign students studying in Scotland have to pay tuition fees and fund their own living expenses.
English, Welsh, Irish students will pay fees at the lower Scottish fee rate. That was reported the other day and Scottish Universities are aware they could become flooded with aplicants from England as a result.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

The Scottish educational system is, and always has been, separate from and different to the English system. There is no legal claim here.

[AliBellandthe40jingles]

colditz - it is only for students born in those countries, not simply resident.

[panettoinydog]

It is not racist. There are now devolved governments and it is up to those governments to make choices about their spending and funding.

[Mowiol]

Meant to say that Scottish students don't pay fees (at the moment) but do have loans for living expenses.

[DuelingFanio]

Are you sure AliBella? I thought in Wales so long as you had lived in Wales for 2 maybe 3 years you cwere counted as resident and would be helped?

[christmaseve]

I heard that you need to live in Scotland or Wales for 3 years leading up to applying.

It's not a racial issue.

[HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly]

It's not racist, unless there are different rules for black students, white students, asian students...

It's certainly unfair to have different rules though.

[panettoinydog]

It's not unfair.

Is it unfair that France and Sweden have differnt rules?

[HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly]

I think that it is unfair that different parts of the UK have different rules.

france and sweden are different countries.

Now i know that england, scotland and wales are different countries but they are also linked closely in many ways, (great britain?) including laws, finance, government etc, so I think that england, scotland & wales is a different kettle of fish from france and sweden. iyswim.

[Habbibu]

Scots law and education have always been different from English, and the Scottish Govt is devolved.

[IWouldNotCouldNotWithAGoat]

They need to fucking well start VOTING.

Why are the cuts hitting the young over pensioners? Because pensioners bloody vote.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

IWNCNWAG - you missed something off the end of your sentence..

Because pensioners vote Tory...

[IWouldNotCouldNotWithAGoat]

Right you are, Jareth.

[panettoinydog]

Exaactly habb. Law and education have always been different. It just hasn't been noticed until something seems 'unfair'.

[HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly]

I'm out I am far too confused by the relationship between england, scotland and wales

Are they seperate countries? is it one country? do they share laws, money... are they financially seperate? does england help finance scotland and wales? do scotland and wales pour money into england or are scotland, england and wales financially independent? are all countries on their own or only when it suits them? england's in the world cup but when scotland's in the world cup it's britain that's in the world cup...

I just wish it would be decided once and for all if the countries are under the same - umbrella? - or are out there on their own. And then let me know

I am totally baffled by it all. Clearly I know nothing about how it all works so I am going to shut up

[stickylittlefingers]

is it not just a case of choosing how to spend the money in the "pot" - so e.g. Welsh people could choose to have their bins picked up less often and have lower fees at university (to use a silly example). When we can't "afford" things it's more about what we choose to afford.

[Mowiol]

And also forgot to say that Scottish students studying in England have to pay the local fees same as their English counterparts.
So, to be clear, nobody but Scottish students get their tuition fees paid at Scottish Universities. So everyone else is discriminated against.