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Students and unions staging fees and cuts protests Students and unions staging fees and cuts protests
(40 minutes later)
Protests are being held in London and Manchester against rising student tuition fees and public spending cuts.Protests are being held in London and Manchester against rising student tuition fees and public spending cuts.
Thousands have joined a joint rally in Manchester organised by the National Union of Students and TUC.Thousands have joined a joint rally in Manchester organised by the National Union of Students and TUC.
In central London, a police presence has been building up on the route of a planned march through Whitehall and Westminster. In central London, thousands of students are taking part in a noisy protest march which is heading towards Whitehall and Westminster.
Officers will hand out leaflets telling demonstrators what actions will be taken if violence breaks out. Lecturers' union leader, Sally Hunt, accused the government of being at "war with young people".
The head of the UCU lecturers' union, Sally Hunt, has told protesters that the government is at "war with young people". About 3,000 people are estimated have taken part in a march through Manchester, which brought together protests against higher tuition fees with wider trade union opposition to spending cuts and job losses.
'Betrayal''Betrayal'
"It is betraying an entire generation," she said, attacking the government for raising tuition fees in England to a new upper limit of £9,000 per year and for scrapping education maintenance allowances for college students. "It is betraying an entire generation," Ms Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, told the rally.
She attacked the government for raising tuition fees in England to a new upper limit of £9,000 per year and for scrapping education maintenance allowances for college students.
Universities Minister David Willetts said the changes to student finance were an improvement which put "students in the driving seat".Universities Minister David Willetts said the changes to student finance were an improvement which put "students in the driving seat".
"Our student and university finance reforms are fairer than the present system and affordable for the nation," he said."Our student and university finance reforms are fairer than the present system and affordable for the nation," he said.
TUC assistant general secretary Kay Carberry told the rally in Manchester that young people should not pay the price for the government's "reckless gamble" with the economy.TUC assistant general secretary Kay Carberry told the rally in Manchester that young people should not pay the price for the government's "reckless gamble" with the economy.
Ms Carberry said: "In the City, bankers are popping champagne corks and celebrating their bonuses.Ms Carberry said: "In the City, bankers are popping champagne corks and celebrating their bonuses.
"It's business as usual for them, while young people up and down Britain are being forced to pick up the tab for a financial crisis and recession that they didn't cause.""It's business as usual for them, while young people up and down Britain are being forced to pick up the tab for a financial crisis and recession that they didn't cause."
Emma Bates, aged 17, from Greenhead College in Huddersfield, explained why she was taking part in the protest.Emma Bates, aged 17, from Greenhead College in Huddersfield, explained why she was taking part in the protest.
"We are not going to take all these government cuts lying down. The only way of doing that is by protesting.""We are not going to take all these government cuts lying down. The only way of doing that is by protesting."
Peaceful demonstration 'Investing'
Saturday's rallies will be the latest in a series of demonstrations by students.Saturday's rallies will be the latest in a series of demonstrations by students.
On the day MPs voted to raise fees, there were angry scenes on the streets of London as thousands of students marched through the capital.On the day MPs voted to raise fees, there were angry scenes on the streets of London as thousands of students marched through the capital.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber says he is not expecting a repeat on Saturday. Police in London have handed out leaflets to demonstrators explaining the right to protest.
"I am very confident this will be an entirely peaceful demonstration," he said. Protesters taking part in the rally in Westminster will also be using technology to avoid being held in a police "kettle" - with the launch of a mobile phone application designed to identify blocked routes.
"But I don't think that means we can't get across very powerfully the degree of anger there is about these terribly damaging changes the government are trying to force through."
Protesters taking part in the rally in London will also be using technology to avoid being held in a police "kettle" - with the launch of a mobile phone application designed to identify blocked routes.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said the trade unions needed to understand that the youth unemployment challenge facing this government was a "direct consequence of the failings of Labour".Employment Minister Chris Grayling said the trade unions needed to understand that the youth unemployment challenge facing this government was a "direct consequence of the failings of Labour".
"We have inherited a legacy of 600,000 young people who have never worked since leaving school or college," he said."We have inherited a legacy of 600,000 young people who have never worked since leaving school or college," he said.
"We think young people deserve better - that's why we're investing in apprenticeships to create long-term jobs and are developing work experience opportunities so that young people get the skills and experience they need to successfully compete in the labour market.""We think young people deserve better - that's why we're investing in apprenticeships to create long-term jobs and are developing work experience opportunities so that young people get the skills and experience they need to successfully compete in the labour market."
Are you going to join the protests today? Are you affected by the issues? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you going to join the protests today? Are you affected by the issues? Send us your comments using the form below.
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