The big university funding debate

On Friday I popped along to Wellington Church in the west end of Glasgow to watch the live broadcast of Brian Taylor's Big Debate. It was the day after the publication of the green paper on university funding. The day's newspapers had the headlines of SNP Green Paper sparks university funding row and Michael Russell in cash grab to avoid tuition charges. This was a chance for the public to have their say - direct to the education secretary.

The panel was made up by Mike Russell, Ken Macintosh, Patrick Harvie and Liam Burns. It wasn't the easiest of set ups for the producer of the show after weather warnings forced the cancellation of the originally planned location in Ardrishaig, and he was worried they wouldn't have much of an audience at the rearranged venue. Choosing a location directly opposite Glasgow University, they managed to get twenty or so hardy students into the drafty church hall, while exams were taking place in a room round the back. Brian Taylor was in good form, with his prematch warm up cup of tea, woolly bunnet and Dundee United scarf. And the panel and audience soon sparked into heated debate...

Brian Taylor talks more about the cost of education on his Blether with Brian blog. You can download a pdf file of the 50-page green paper, or read up on the BBC's at a glance guide.