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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, thousands of students are taking part in a noisy protest march which is heading towards Whitehall and Westminster. | |
Lecturers' union leader, Sally Hunt, accused the government of being 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," 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." |
'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. |
Police in London have handed out leaflets to demonstrators explaining the right to protest. | |
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. | |
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. |
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. | 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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