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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Tuition fee protesters in 'cat and mouse' with police | Tuition fee protesters in 'cat and mouse' with police |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent |
| Students are staging demonstrations and marches across the UK in the third day of protests against increasing tuition fees and university budget cuts. | Students are staging demonstrations and marches across the UK in the third day of protests against increasing tuition fees and university budget cuts. |
| Students have been moving quickly across Westminster and London's West End in what appears to be an attempt to avoid police "kettling" tactics. | Students have been moving quickly across Westminster and London's West End in what appears to be an attempt to avoid police "kettling" tactics. |
| There are also protests in Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol. | There are also protests in Leeds, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol. |
| Business Secretary Vince Cable says he might now abstain in the vote on fees. | Business Secretary Vince Cable says he might now abstain in the vote on fees. |
| National Union of Students leader Aaron Porter attacked the Liberal Democrats for failing to keep their promise to vote against raising fees. | National Union of Students leader Aaron Porter attacked the Liberal Democrats for failing to keep their promise to vote against raising fees. |
| "The anger felt at this betrayal is real, justified, and desperately disappointing to those who placed in you their hope for a different politics," said Mr Porter, in a letter to Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg. | "The anger felt at this betrayal is real, justified, and desperately disappointing to those who placed in you their hope for a different politics," said Mr Porter, in a letter to Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg. |
| In Sheffield, students have staged a protest near to Mr Clegg's constituency office. | In Sheffield, students have staged a protest near to Mr Clegg's constituency office. |
| In Birmingham, there were reports of scuffles as protesters entered the city council chamber. | In Birmingham, there were reports of scuffles as protesters entered the city council chamber. |
| 'Kettling' | 'Kettling' |
| In freezing conditions, thousands of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square - many appearing younger than university students. | In freezing conditions, thousands of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square - many appearing younger than university students. |
| Mounted police have been moving through Westminster, the scene of clashes in two previous protests. | Mounted police have been moving through Westminster, the scene of clashes in two previous protests. |
| Demonstrators appear to be trying to avoid being caught in police lines, after thousands were held in a "kettle" last week. | Demonstrators appear to be trying to avoid being caught in police lines, after thousands were held in a "kettle" last week. |
| A 19-year-old student told the BBC their strategy was to avoid being contained by police: "Whenever the police block us off, we turn round and go the other way. | A 19-year-old student told the BBC their strategy was to avoid being contained by police: "Whenever the police block us off, we turn round and go the other way. |
| "We also do not want to be panicked into violence. Smashing up windows was necessary in the beginning to get the demonstrations on the front pages, but now any violence would be counter-productive." | "We also do not want to be panicked into violence. Smashing up windows was necessary in the beginning to get the demonstrations on the front pages, but now any violence would be counter-productive." |
| Unlike last week's demonstration in which students were held on Whitehall as a single group, this protest has been broken up into groups moving quickly around London's West End. | Unlike last week's demonstration in which students were held on Whitehall as a single group, this protest has been broken up into groups moving quickly around London's West End. |
| Although traffic has been stopped at various points, there appears to be no sign of violence. | Although traffic has been stopped at various points, there appears to be no sign of violence. |
| The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts has accused the police of having "pre-emptively blocked" the protest route. | The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts has accused the police of having "pre-emptively blocked" the protest route. |
| The Metropolitan Police say the marchers began earlier than planned and there was "never any intention to contain the protesters". | The Metropolitan Police say the marchers began earlier than planned and there was "never any intention to contain the protesters". |
| MPs are expected to vote on the fees package before Christmas. | MPs are expected to vote on the fees package before Christmas. |
| It remains uncertain whether Liberal Democrat ministers will abstain or support the proposals to raise tuition fees to £9,000 per year. | It remains uncertain whether Liberal Democrat ministers will abstain or support the proposals to raise tuition fees to £9,000 per year. |
| At the general election, Liberal Democrat candidates gave personal pledges to students that they would vote against any increase in fees. | At the general election, Liberal Democrat candidates gave personal pledges to students that they would vote against any increase in fees. |
| Vince Cable, the secretary of state responsible for universities, has indicated that he might not vote in favour of the fee rise, but might abstain. | Vince Cable, the secretary of state responsible for universities, has indicated that he might not vote in favour of the fee rise, but might abstain. |
| Labour's Shadow Business Secretary, John Denham, says it would be "extraordinary and appalling" if the secretary of state did not vote for his own proposals. | Labour's Shadow Business Secretary, John Denham, says it would be "extraordinary and appalling" if the secretary of state did not vote for his own proposals. |
| Protests have also been taking place around the country. | Protests have also been taking place around the country. |
| More than a thousand students protested in the centre of Manchester. | More than a thousand students protested in the centre of Manchester. |
| In Nottingham, about 150 protesters are reported to have staged an occupation at the university. | In Nottingham, about 150 protesters are reported to have staged an occupation at the university. |
| Occupations are continuing in a number of other universities, including University College London, Cambridge and Newcastle. | Occupations are continuing in a number of other universities, including University College London, Cambridge and Newcastle. |
| Are you at a protest? What is happening where you are? Send us your pictures and comments using the form below. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | |
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