The Government has this evening said that the GSD “continue to deliberately fuel misunderstanding” regarding scholarships, attempting to cause unnecessary concern among students and parents “only to serve their own inconsistent political agenda.” 

A statement continued: “The filters being introduced to the awarding of scholarships are designed to root out unfairness and ensure that all eligible students receive the support they are entitled to, both for their tuition fees and living expenses. 

“The alternative, which the GSD might prefer, would mean inherent UNFAIRNESS in that students who under the current GSLP / Liberal system are entitled to mandatory scholarships would not be eligible if the GSD had their way. 

“It is entirely untrue that private schools have been singled out. A review of the criteria that would allow a mandatory scholarship to be granted automatically also affect some students attending the state schools. However, it is important to reiterate that Gibraltarians and long-term residents of Gibraltar who meet the existing eligibility criteria have nothing to worry about. 

"This is part of a wider review of eligibility criteria for benefits in Gibraltar that aims to root out those who seek to take advantage of our excellent socialist system of government and the benefits and lifestyle that this affords, without first having properly contributed, and who therefore, in the views of this government, are not and should not be entitled to the same benefits as taxpaying Gibraltarians and long-term residents. 

“For years the GSD have been calling for financial prudence and an end to what they deem a ‘culture of entitlement’. Now they are again trying to make political capital by advocating for the opposite. As is their standard practice, they don’t know what they believe, so they try to sow disbelief among others.”

The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: “It's clear that Mr Azopardi is never happy when people are happy with the Government. He is only happy when he can sow fear and confusion in an attempt to prejudice people against the GSLP/Liberals. Now that his facile attempts to do so on the issue of eligibility for scholarships have failed, despite his incendiary, untrue commentary, Mr Azopardi returns to his sullen approach to everything which involves constant, unconstructive criticism. The Government will take no notice and will, as usual, continue to do the right thing for Gibraltar and its people.”