A student leader has backed the decision by Heriot Watt University to remove a stone unveiled by Alex Salmond.
Kieran Robson Renner, the campus president, said the student union would welcome a “new installation” replacing the controversial monument.
In his final month as First Minister in 2014, Salmond unveiled a commemorative stone which he believed symbolised the SNP Government’s commitment to free higher education.
When he was First Minister, MSPs abolished the graduate endowment, which the SNP described as a backdoor tuition fee.
The so-called “Salmond stone” was inscribed with the words: “The rocks will melt with the sun before I allow tuition fees to be imposed on Scottish students.”
A delighted Salmond said at the time: “The single biggest achievement by this Government has been the abolition of tuition fees. This one action has restored Scotland’s long tradition of education being based on ability to learn – not the ability to pay."
However, not everyone was a fan of the stone and critics believed the University should never have agreed to hosting it.
It was reported in 2015 that the Government had wanted the stone to be housed at St Andrews University, but the plan never materialised.
Six years later, Heriot Watt has had a rethink and the stone is to be removed from its current location.
A University spokesperson explained yesterday: “Following consultation with the Heriot-Watt University Student Union, a decision has been taken to use the current location of the commemorative stone for an alternative public art work which will appeal to our international student community. The stone will be carefully looked after until an alternative location is found for it in future.”
Robson Renner told the Daily Record: “We are happy that the University’s response is sufficient at this time. With a large rUK [rest of UK] and International student membership, Heriot-Watt University Student Union represents a diverse student body from Scotland, and over 140 other countries around the world.
“Whilst the Union wholeheartedly agrees with the sentiment behind the ‘Salmond Stone’, and that free education is, and should always be, a basic human right, we would welcome a new installation celebrating our truly global student and staff communities. We look forward to seeing plans once they’re ready to be shared.”
Salmond served as First Minister for seven years between 2007 and 2014, and was SNP leader for two decades over two separate spells.
After he left office, Salmond was investigated for alleged misconduct by the government he used to lead.
A civil court ruled that the Government probe had been unlawful after a successful legal challenge by Salmond.
He was separately charged with sexual offences, but was acquitted at the High Court earlier this year.
