Students Demonstrate against rising University Fees

Now familiar scenes in London of the student clashes with police. Tensions are running high tonight after a mainly peaceful start to the demonstrations earlier today.  Protesters are remaining in Trafalgar square as darkness falls.

After a march across London, demonstrators are being moved out of Trafalgar Square by lines of police.

Meanwhile in Wales, the assembly government has announced that its students will pay thousands less in fees than in England.  The Welsh Assembly Government announced its own fee plans, which will see Welsh students at university in Wales and England paying no more than £3,290 per year.  (This would mean that an English student at an English University could end up spending £17,000 more on a 3-year course than their Welsh counterpart or a student in a Welsh University)  This will be done via 

Student Finance Wales which is a partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government, Local Authorities and the Student Loans Company.

Student Finance Wales provides grants and loans to eligible students who normally live in Wales for both Further Education and Higher Education. This is regardless of nationality or where in the UK students are studying. 

There are also additional services for students with special circumstances, such as disabled students, or those with caring responsibilities.

Business Secretary Vince Cable says he might now abstain in the vote on fees. The vote in the House of Commons, expected before Christmas, will decide whether tuition fees in England will be raised to up to £9,000 per year.  However one of the organisers of today's protest said "abstention is not an option".  The Liberal Democrats are under pressure to honour their election manifesto and sitting on the fence is not considered enough.

Occupations have reportedly taken place in at least eight universities and in Birmingham about 30 protesters occupied the city council's offices.

There were also protests in Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol.

The weather has had a hand in reducing the numbers of protesters.  Only the die hard students have ventured out In today's freezing conditions.

So, will we see a huge rise in the applications to Welsh Universities?