A FURIOUS row over free university tuition erupted at Holyrood as MSPs backed the SNP's flagship policy of not charging Scottish and EU students.
SNP and LibDem MSPs backed free tuition in a symbolic vote while the Tories voted against and Labour abstained.
The Nationalists said Labour's refusal to back the policy was a "Nick Clegg moment" – a reference to the LibDems' U-turn on free tuition after the 2010 general election.
However, Labour accused the SNP of trying to close down debate on free tuition after it voted against calls for an independent commission on higher and further education.
During a debate, Education Secretary Michael Russell challenged Labour to say whether it supported free tuition after leader Johann Lamont questioned its fairness.
Afterwards, SNP MSP Stewart Maxwell said: "This is a repeat of Nick Clegg's shameful behaviour south of the Border."
Hugh Henry, Scottish Labour's education spokesman, said: "We offered to have an open and honest debate and work on a cross-party basis to tackle the challenges we face on further and higher education.
"The SNP rejected this in favour of the status quo.
"The Scottish Government is failing students who want to use colleges as a stepping stone to university or gain new skills for a tough job market.
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