Ten of thousands of students and supporters took to London streets on Wednesday to protest against plans to triple university tuition fees.
When the 50,000 demonstrators, according to the organizers, passed by the headquarters of the Conservative Party, a small minority started to cause trouble. BBC reports that 32 people were arrested for damaging property, including smashing the building’s windows. They also climbed on to its roof and threw things from it. On the streets, protest signs were set on fire.
Police reported 14 people suffered minor injuries, according to BBC.
People came from across Britain to protest a raise in tuition fees to 9,000 pounds ($14,500) per year as funding for higher education is being cut by 40 percent. The government says it must increase tuition fees, up to triple the current 3,000 pounds, to cover the shortfall.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg during a debate, stood by the plans calling them a “fair and progressive solution to a very difficult problem,” as quoted by the BBC.
With these plans, the Liberal Democrats are effectively backpedaling on their pre-election promise to end university tuition fees. “This is an extraordinarily difficult issue, and I have been entirely open about the fact that we have not been able to deliver the policy that we held in opposition,” Clegg said.
When the 50,000 demonstrators, according to the organizers, passed by the headquarters of the Conservative Party, a small minority started to cause trouble. BBC reports that 32 people were arrested for damaging property, including smashing the building’s windows. They also climbed on to its roof and threw things from it. On the streets, protest signs were set on fire.
Police reported 14 people suffered minor injuries, according to BBC.
People came from across Britain to protest a raise in tuition fees to 9,000 pounds ($14,500) per year as funding for higher education is being cut by 40 percent. The government says it must increase tuition fees, up to triple the current 3,000 pounds, to cover the shortfall.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg during a debate, stood by the plans calling them a “fair and progressive solution to a very difficult problem,” as quoted by the BBC.
With these plans, the Liberal Democrats are effectively backpedaling on their pre-election promise to end university tuition fees. “This is an extraordinarily difficult issue, and I have been entirely open about the fact that we have not been able to deliver the policy that we held in opposition,” Clegg said.
