UNIVERSITY of Edinburgh lecturers began a fresh round of strike action today over bosses’ plans to slash spending by  £140 million and axe 1,800 jobs.

The walkout by members of the University and College Union (UCU) will be followed by another tomorrow, when a rally on the city’s Bristol Square will be addressed by STUC general secretary Roz Foyer.

UCU Edinburgh branch president Sophia Woodman said: “The last annual report showed that the university’s finances are healthy and a year after announcing the biggest-ever cuts to be made to a university in Scotland, they’ve failed to make the case for the level of cuts and job losses they’re proposing.  

“It’s time now for management to end the undue stress and worry they’ve put staff and students through and to engage in a genuinely meaningful way to find a way forward to end this dispute.”

University of Edinburgh principal and vice-chancellor Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said: “We will continue all legally required consultation with union representatives and will continue to uphold our commitments under the agreement, as we believe this is in the best interests of our staff.”