A GROUP of students yesterday took matters into their own hands, turning a peaceful protest into a violent bloodbath. Milbank Tower, home to the headquarters of the Conservatives was stormed by an angry bunch of protestors, with fires lit, windows smashed and furniture damaged. It is estimated that over £1million in damage was caused.
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| ANGER: Students turn against the coalition government |
As the battle was over last night, the war between students and the coalition government has only just begun. It is the first sign of rebellious action that has been taken since the spending review around three weeks ago. Over 50,000 students marched through London, angry with proposals of an increase in tuition fees, from £3,290 a year to £9,000 year. It wasn’t just tuition fees that dominated the concerns, with many cuts in education budgets and the removal of the EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) and ALG (Adult Learning Grant) for students that attend sixth form or colleges across the country. The march was set-up by the NUS and the UCU (University College Union). President of the NUS, Aaron Porter was furious with those who had taken matters into their own hands; “It’s an utter disgrace.” “Perhaps 500 or more have chosen to use disgraceful tactics to try and undermine us.”
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| FIERY: Fires were started by the protestors |
Although no-one can condemn the students who decided to use violence to get their point across, the police have been strongly criticised for their response to the violence. As the protestors stormed the roof of Milbank Tower, police admitted that they didn’t anticipate the trouble that was caused. The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Paul Stephenson has announced an enquiry into the lack of police and looked shocked when he told the media of his thoughts on the day’s events; “We didn’t expect this level of violence – but we’ve got to ask ourselves the question: Should we have anticipated this?” For him to have even suggested this is absolutely startling. There a load of questions for the police to answer. Their response and pre-planned action was simply unacceptable, when trouble could easily have been predicted by many. It shows the lack of organisation within the Metropolitan Police – you do wonder whether a pet animal could have organised it better!
Another man feeling the heat is Nick Clegg, who seemed to be the main person that the students were targeting for broken promises. In the Liberal Democrats manifesto, Clegg promised a cutback on tuition fees and many of the Lib Dem MP’s signed pledges against increases on university fees. Standing in for David Cameron, who is in China at the moment, Clegg got a roasting yesterday at Prime Minister Questions from the Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman; “In April, you said it was your aim to end University tuition fees. Can you update the house on how your plan is progressing?”
Clegg’s response was far from convincing; “This is an extraordinarily difficult issue.”
Harman went on the attack again; “In April, you said increasing tuition fees to £7,000 a year would be a disaster. What word would you use to describe fees of £9,000?”
Clegg started to use old examples that simply didn’t awash with the main opposition. Cameron’s suggestion in Beijing that overseas students will get a significant cut in fees, whilst domestic students get a raise just adds insult to injury. The coalition government had a very bad day yesterday and have a lot of answers and very reasonable ones to give to win back the trust of many students.
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| FURY: A fire extinguisher is thrown from the Milbank Roof |
There were some casualties on the ground, as students from the roof began to throw missiles, with a fire extinguisher one of the items thrown, which narrowly missed police, who were now dressed in riot gear. Around 14 casualties were taken, with three police officers being treated in hospital. The mayor of London, Boris Johnson was appalled by the events; “It was a quiet, peaceful, good-humoured demonstration.” “They were fully entitled to do so, but it is very tragic that a few minorities have decided to abuse the right of protest and cause criminal damage.” “Completely unacceptable and those who are responsible, I hope they are bought fully to justice with the law.”
Some of the troublemakers may not have been students; some could have been unemployed people or other minorities who have been affected by the spending cuts. Police confirmed that 32 people have been arrested and hopefully, those responsible will be kicked off their courses and face the full force of the law.
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| TROUBLEMAKERS: Angry protesters charge into Tory HQ |
The tuition fees proposal must be approved in the House of Commons and House of Lords next month. If the £9,000 a year cap is introduced, then students will be close to facing £40,000 of debts. Yesterday’s events are unlikely to sway the government’s thinking, but it was a day of shame and embarrassment for all parties. A day when the coalition government came properly under-fire for the first time, a day when the students fought back – but with disgusting and shameful results, a day when the inadequacies and the lack of organisation of the Metropolitan Police were well and truly exposed, a day which bought the worst scenes of violence on British streets since the Poll Tax riots of 1990.
In fact, yesterday was a black day for everyone, and the fear is, more is to come.
