Post by Mike Giggs' Munchies on Dec 9, 2010 13:24:36 GMT -5
The coalition government has won the vote to raise tuition fees in England to £9,000 per year - as violent protests take place in Westminster.
Three ministerial aides have resigned over the issue - as the fee rise passed by a majority of 21 votes.
Scotland Yard says six police officers have been hurt in clashes between police and students.
Protesters who had forced their way into Parliament Square pressed against police lines and threw missiles.
Violent scenes
The government saw its majority cut by three-quarters, but survived a backbench rebellion.
Mounted police were used to control crowds, as demonstrators waited outside the Houses of Parliament.
The London Ambulance Service says 19 people have been treated for injuries - six have been taken to hospital.
There were angry clashes as protesters - some throwing missiles - fought to break through police lines.
The police now say they are containing protesters on the square. Seven people have been arrested and a container is on fire.
The BBC's Ben Brown, outside Parliament, said protesters shouted "shame on you" as news of the result filtered out to the crowd.
In violent scenes earlier, the BBC's Mark Georgiou said there had been injuries to both police and protesters near to Westminster Abbey.
The Metropolitan Police say there have been attacks using "flares, sticks, snooker balls and paint balls".
Students from around the UK gathered in London for a day of protests and a rally - with police expecting about 20,000 demonstrators.
Inside the House of Commons, Business Secretary Vince Cable told MPs the fee plans were fair and would maintain the quality of universities.
The coalition government faced its first major backbench rebellion in the vote.
Two Lib Dem ministerial aides, Mike Crockart and Jenny Willott, have resigned their posts as a ministerial aide because they intend to vote against the fee increase.
A Conservative ministerial aide, Lee Scott, has also resigned.
Opening a noisy debate in the Commons, Mr Cable said the fees plan would "maintain high quality universities in the long-term, tackle the fiscal deficit and provides a more progressive system of graduate contributions based on people's ability to pay".
Liberal Democrat MPs had been under intense pressure - after their election pledge to vote against any fee increase.
Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has become a target for student anger, was able to call on the support of all Lib Dem ministers.
But Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes abstained.
Mr Hughes said that the "level of fee increase... may have a significant disincentive effect on youngsters going to university".
Reacting to the result, Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was a "bad day for families and young people, and a bad day for democracy".
Shadow business secretary John Denham said in the debate that the fee increase was being driven by the government's decision to have deep cuts to university funding.
"Even if they had just cut universities the way they are cutting other public services, students would be facing fees of no more than £4,000," he told the BBC.
"This is a choice they have made and they don't have to make it."
The package of measures will see fees rising to an upper limit of £9,000 per year - with requirements for universities to protect access for poorer students if they charge more than £6,000 per year.
College occupations
The proposals to raise fees have triggered a wave of student and school pupil protests, with a march last month leading to an attack on the Conservative headquarters in Millbank.
Dozens of universities have been occupied by students - with students in five more universities occupying buildings this week.
For the first time, there have also been occupations of schools by pupils.
Aaron Porter, president of the National Union of Students, urged MPs to "do the honourable thing and vote down these damaging proposals".
"Students are now descending on Westminster to ensure that promises to voters are kept and they are not sold down the river," said Mr Porter.
There has been no consensus within the university sector about the fees deal.
The university lecturers' union has backed student protesters - while university vice chancellors have been split over whether to support or oppose the fees plan.
The plan to raise fees will apply to students in England. Welsh students will not pay the higher rate of fees, even at universities in England.
In Scotland there are no tuition fees - and Northern Ireland has still to decide how it will respond to any fee rise in England.
Three ministerial aides have resigned over the issue - as the fee rise passed by a majority of 21 votes.
Scotland Yard says six police officers have been hurt in clashes between police and students.
Protesters who had forced their way into Parliament Square pressed against police lines and threw missiles.
Violent scenes
The government saw its majority cut by three-quarters, but survived a backbench rebellion.
Mounted police were used to control crowds, as demonstrators waited outside the Houses of Parliament.
The London Ambulance Service says 19 people have been treated for injuries - six have been taken to hospital.
There were angry clashes as protesters - some throwing missiles - fought to break through police lines.
The police now say they are containing protesters on the square. Seven people have been arrested and a container is on fire.
The BBC's Ben Brown, outside Parliament, said protesters shouted "shame on you" as news of the result filtered out to the crowd.
In violent scenes earlier, the BBC's Mark Georgiou said there had been injuries to both police and protesters near to Westminster Abbey.
The Metropolitan Police say there have been attacks using "flares, sticks, snooker balls and paint balls".
Students from around the UK gathered in London for a day of protests and a rally - with police expecting about 20,000 demonstrators.
Inside the House of Commons, Business Secretary Vince Cable told MPs the fee plans were fair and would maintain the quality of universities.
The coalition government faced its first major backbench rebellion in the vote.
Two Lib Dem ministerial aides, Mike Crockart and Jenny Willott, have resigned their posts as a ministerial aide because they intend to vote against the fee increase.
A Conservative ministerial aide, Lee Scott, has also resigned.
Opening a noisy debate in the Commons, Mr Cable said the fees plan would "maintain high quality universities in the long-term, tackle the fiscal deficit and provides a more progressive system of graduate contributions based on people's ability to pay".
Liberal Democrat MPs had been under intense pressure - after their election pledge to vote against any fee increase.
Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has become a target for student anger, was able to call on the support of all Lib Dem ministers.
But Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes abstained.
Mr Hughes said that the "level of fee increase... may have a significant disincentive effect on youngsters going to university".
Reacting to the result, Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was a "bad day for families and young people, and a bad day for democracy".
Shadow business secretary John Denham said in the debate that the fee increase was being driven by the government's decision to have deep cuts to university funding.
"Even if they had just cut universities the way they are cutting other public services, students would be facing fees of no more than £4,000," he told the BBC.
"This is a choice they have made and they don't have to make it."
The package of measures will see fees rising to an upper limit of £9,000 per year - with requirements for universities to protect access for poorer students if they charge more than £6,000 per year.
College occupations
The proposals to raise fees have triggered a wave of student and school pupil protests, with a march last month leading to an attack on the Conservative headquarters in Millbank.
Dozens of universities have been occupied by students - with students in five more universities occupying buildings this week.
For the first time, there have also been occupations of schools by pupils.
Aaron Porter, president of the National Union of Students, urged MPs to "do the honourable thing and vote down these damaging proposals".
"Students are now descending on Westminster to ensure that promises to voters are kept and they are not sold down the river," said Mr Porter.
There has been no consensus within the university sector about the fees deal.
The university lecturers' union has backed student protesters - while university vice chancellors have been split over whether to support or oppose the fees plan.
The plan to raise fees will apply to students in England. Welsh students will not pay the higher rate of fees, even at universities in England.
In Scotland there are no tuition fees - and Northern Ireland has still to decide how it will respond to any fee rise in England.
IMO higher education is a right not a privilege. Very disappointed the rise went ahead.
ing pay to try and make something of yourself, unlike these shameless ****s who are on the dole for 30+ years who go scot free without earning for the rest of their empty lives.
