Students march as parliament debates tuition fees

Newcastle students protest, photo by Ray Smith

Newcastle students protest, photo by Ray Smith   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Thousands of students marched again today, 30th November, to protest as tuition fees were to be debated in parliament.

The disgraceful policing and hounding of young people by the right wing press has not deterred new numbers of young people from protesting.

Once again, Youth Fight for Jobs was leading many of the protests, YFJ is launching Youth Fight for Education at a meeting called in London on Sunday 5th December.

Over 2000 in Bristol
Over 2000 in London
400 in Leeds
150 Nottingham students in occupation – please send messages of solidarity to [email protected]
50 in Hull, excellent mood reported.
Southampton Protest against Education Cuts: school students walk out, photo Spiky Rob

Southampton Protest against Education Cuts: school students walk out, photo Spiky Rob   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

100 in Southampton marching through shopping centre!
Thousands demonstrated in Brighton
300 marched in York
Students in Cardiff occupied a Lloyds TSB
1000 in Manchester
Oxford council buildings occupied
Newcastle: over 500 demonstrated. Demonstration was kettled – penned in by the police.
In London, on every protest there is a new wave of young people prepared to fight back.

Despite the snow, over 2000 young people, mainly school and college students, gathered in Trafalgar Square, climbed the plinth on Nelson’s Column and filled the air with lively chants – “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts” – and other more colourful chants, such as “If I say Nick Clegg, we say d**khead!”

They then set off on a hectic march around central London streets winning the applause of shoppers and workers around Victoria Bridge, Piccadilly, Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road … and onwards!

The students ended in Trafalgar Square with a spontaneous rally, in a police cordon.

Socialist Student organiser Claire Laker-Mansfield spoke and announced to great applause the latest victory in this battle.

Last week the Welsh Assembly agreed not to abolish EMA – today they announced they will not increase fees!

As we write the police are letting students out in small numbers, and many are dispersing to visit the various occupations in London universities – at Kings, UCL, LSE and SOAS.

Occupations have also been held at Southbank and Roehampton.