Farone Kahuya, Leeds Socialist Students
Leeds Socialist Students organised a protest for the Funding Not Fees campaign against Labour’s plan to raise tuition fees to over £9,535.
We are targeting criticism to the University of Leeds vice chancellor too. Her wages increase alongside our tuition fees. But she has the power to choose not to comply with Labour’s fee hike.
We are adding pressure to the university bosses to respond, with campaign activity around the universities and sixth form colleges in Leeds – leading up to the protest in front of the Parkinson Steps.
We had fantastic speeches from Socialist Students. Capitalist profit makes student life harder and more unsustainable each year. One speaker reminisced about when university was free.
Another related this movement to powerful student movements in the past that we can take inspiration from, such as the 2010 protests against the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition trebling tuition fees to £9,000.
This demo was backed by various student groups. Many, who could not make it, gave a speech to be read on their behalf. For example, Eden – Leeds student union wellbeing officer – expressed her grievances of having to go through a personal loss that prevented her from continuing higher education, yet still had to pay a hefty portion of the tuition fee, despite attending only one class.
Despite our small numbers, we were heard by many. We handed out many flyers, and our speakers were heard throughout the street.
As long as the accessibility and quality of higher education is threatened by capitalist greed, we will continue to fight for funding over fees, aiming to inspire more young people to push back against these changes.
