Alex Salmond forced St Andrews University principal over freedom concerns

EDINBURGH (Scotland): Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, tried to force the principal of St Andrews University to criticize Westminster and tone down her warnings about the adverse impact if Scotland breaks away from the UK.

Salmond is believed to have telephoned eminent academic Prof Louise Richardson demanding her to retrace her remarks about the consequences of leaving the UK besides trying to bully her into praising the Scottish government over its higher education policy.

Geoff Aberdein — Salmond's chief of staff contacted the university's press office suggesting a statement they wanted Prof Richardson to release under her name.

Prof Richardson who is the first female principal in the institute's 600 year history flatly refused to issue the comment.

She sent an email saying "I'm sorry but I'm afraid I cannot agree to this statement". Salmond interestingly studied economics and mediaeval history in the same college.

Prof Richardson, who is the principal and vice-chancellor of St Andrews had said recently "If we were cut off from national research councils it would be catastrophic for this institution. We would lose our top academics, we would fail to attract serious academics from other countries".

She warned that secession could threaten access to £3 billion of UK scientific research funds, potentially proving "catastrophic" for the funding of Scottish universities.

"If Scotland were to set up a research council, it would be very difficult in this small country for all the decisions to be made on the basis of excellence alone".

The comments earned the wrath of Scotland's first minister leading to St Andrews releasing a one-line statement saying that Prof Richardson acknowledged the Scottish Government "is working hard to resolve this issue" of research funding.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Scotland,Louise Richardson,Geoff Aberdein,Andrews University,Alex Salmond

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