SCOTTISH Labour has an “iron-clad” committment to free university tuition, its leader has said, but warned that the status quo is not working for universities or students.

Anas Sarwar made the remarks after a weekend which saw him pledge to keep a host of policies — including free tuition fees and free prescriptions — should he win next year’s Holyrood elections.

Writing to university chiefs however, he called for the overhaul of an SNP funding model which effectively capped the number of Scottish students at the country’s universities, which fell by 10,000 last year.

He wrote: “Scottish Labour’s support for free tuition is iron-clad, but the fact is the status quo is not working.

“I want to work with universities to develop a sustainable funding model that unlocks the full potential of the sector and gives young Scots the chance to study.”

SNP MSP Karen Adam responded: “This is hypocrisy on stilts from Anas Sarwar. 

“Whether in Scotland, England or Wales, fees have gone up under Labour governments.

“It increasingly looks like Anas Sarwar will say anything — and adopt SNP policies — in his desperate attempt to get into power.”