Fourth student protest planned for eve of Commons vote
NUS calls on students to rally once more over tuition fees as further cracks appear in coalition ranks
- guardian.co.uk,
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The National Union of Students has announced plans for further mass student protests on the eve of a crucial Commons vote on university tuition fees.
The union has called for students across the country to begin demonstrations on 8 December.
A further rally by students and union officials is planned on the day of the vote before the group lobbies MPs inside Westminster in an effort to persuade them against voting for a rise in fees.
If the vote passes, the NUS said it plans to organise a vigil with 9,000 candles, representing the government's controversial plans to raise tuition fees by up to £9,000 a year.
NUS president Aaron Porter said: "MPs can be left in no doubt as to the widespread public opposition to these plans or of the consequences of steamrollering them through parliament.
"For the third time in less than a month thousands of students have taken to the streets to protest against the government's attacks on further and higher education.
He added: "Despite repeated dismissals by Nick Clegg that these are uninformed protesters, students are intelligent, articulate people who are not being listened to by those in whom they placed their hope for a different politics."
Organisers said the demonstrations, which are being planned in conjunction with the University and College Union, would not see a repeat of scenes where students gathered at the Conservative party headquarters in Millbank, smashing windows and clashing with police.
While John Denham, the shadow business secretary, has said Labour will mount an intensive "last seven days" campaign in the run-up to the vote, the vote has caused big divisions within the Liberal Democrats. The party promised to oppose any increase in tuition fees during the general election campaign. Vince Cable, the business secretary, has said he might abstain for the good of party relations, and Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, has refused to state how he will vote.
Commentators have said that holding the vote on a Thursday, when many Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland MPs will have left for their constituencies, could make it easier for the government to win without the Liberal Democrats.
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "We need to expose these shabby and devastating proposals and the damage they will do to our universities, colleges and communities."
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