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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 taking place in London and Manchester against the higher tuition fees and public spending cuts. | |
Thousands attended a joint rally in Manchester organised by students and trade unions. | |
Four people have been arrested in disturbances when a group broke away from the main body of protesters. | |
In central London, thousands of students have taken part in a noisy protest march heading towards a rally in Westminster. | |
Lecturers' union leader, Sally Hunt, accused the government of being at "war with young people". | Lecturers' union leader, Sally Hunt, accused the government of being at "war with young people". |
Universities Minister David Willetts said the government's plans for higher education would provide "more financial support for poorer students". | Universities Minister David Willetts said the government's plans for higher education would provide "more financial support for poorer students". |
The march through Manchester brought together protests against higher tuition fees with wider trade union opposition to spending cuts and job losses. | |
The BBC's Danny Savage estimated that there were about 3,000 at the rally. | |
'Betrayal' | 'Betrayal' |
With banners such as "Still angry, still here," protesters in London sent the message that the campaign against higher fees and university spending cuts had not disappeared. | With banners such as "Still angry, still here," protesters in London sent the message that the campaign against higher fees and university spending cuts had not disappeared. |
"It is betraying an entire generation," Ms Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, told the rally in Manchester. | "It is betraying an entire generation," Ms Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, told the rally in Manchester. |
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. | 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. |
Mr Willetts said the changes to student finance were an improvement which put "students in the driving seat". | Mr 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. |
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." |
There have also been divisions within the protest groups - and NUS president Aaron Porter was challenged by demonstrators wanting a more militant leadership. | |
Social networking | |
Saturday's rallies have been the latest in a series of demonstrations and occupations 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. | Police in London have handed out leaflets to demonstrators explaining the right to protest. |
Protesters taking part in the rally in Westminster have been using technology to avoid being held in a police "kettle" - with the launch of a mobile phone application designed to identify blocked routes. | |
As with previous demonstrations, protesters have been using social networking websites and Twitter to organise and report on the event. | |
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. |
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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