What was supposed to be the biggest UK student march of 2012 ends as a chaotic washout, leaving the future uncertain for Britain’s student movement
Story Transcript
Hassan Ghani
The days of a free higher education, once the norm in the United Kingdom, are long gone. And the current government tripled the cost of university tuition shortly after it entered office in may 2010.
Students reacted with angry protests on a massive scale, feeling particularly betrayed by the junior partner in the governing coalition, the liberal democrat party, who ran their election campaign appealing to students on a manifesto to fight against higher tuition fees, but joined the governmentâ€
Today, those protests continue.
The primary focus of this demonstration is the tripling of university tuition fees and the scrapping of the education maintenance allowance, both of which students say will significantly damage their future life chances.â€
Protest organisers told us that their presence was a reminder to those in power that students would hold them accountable.
Liam Burns, President, National Union of Students
“We had a solemn promise from a number in parliament which meant that tution fees shouldnâ€
Toni Pearce, Deputy President, National Union of Students
“This is about making sure our voices are heard. And not just for the sake of students now, but for communities and societies that are in those educational institutions.â€
Hassan Ghani
The government says its wider programme of public spending cuts must go ahead to reduce the countryâ€
Kallum Taylor, York University Students Union
“Itâ€
Hassan Ghani
But this is not just about education cuts, many are concerned about a lack of jobs and opportunities for their age group.
Kallum Taylor, York University Students Union
“Thereâ€
Hassan Ghani
But ultimately, government cuts in education spending have gone ahead, and today Britain’s student movement is not what it used to be. This was due to be the largest student demo of 2012. But unlike previous years, when 50 thousand students marched on London in opposition to governmentâ€
Student protestor
“It is going to take longer this time to build a movement, but itâ€
Hassan Ghani
The rally made its way along the river Thames embankment, some holding Palestinians flags in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
And there was dissent within the ranks. Organisers shepherded the march away from parliament and into South London, on a route agreed with the police. But others insisted this was the place to make their stand, irrespective of what the authorities felt. The police however ensured that didnâ€
Eventually, the march moved on to its final rally point in a muddy field in South London. Again, dissenting voices could be heard, angry that the student leadership had dragged them out of central London and essentially out of sight. They shouted that theyâ€
Student protestor
“There is a division within the NUS now, between those that think we can keep building our movement and think we can go from strength to strength, and those that want to keep us quiet and make sure we vote labour in 2015. And I think that what youâ€
Hassan Ghani
The NUS leadership say militant forms of union action won’t work in the UK, and that theyâ€
But as the clear up begins, many are left wondering what lies ahead for Britainâ€