During a rally against university funding cuts, an estimated 50,000 people gathered to demand change in the UK’s education system. However, a small fringe turned violent and smashed windows at the building that housed the Conservative party headquarters while others waved anarchist flags from the rooftop. Protesters had come together from all walks of life to voice their anger at plans by the UK government to increase tuition fees while simultaneously cutting the state grant for university teaching. As police clashed with a group that had broken away from the main protest, batons, eggs, bottles and placard sticks were thrown. Although there were only a few troublemakers, the exchanges were recorded for posterity on mobile phones and broadcast media. Despite warnings to the contrary, police were taken by surprise by the level of violence and they struggled to control the mob. A few activists who had covered their faces clashed with the police while shouting "Tory scum." Regrettably, at least eight people were injured, and a number had been arrested. Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, the Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, said that "it is not acceptable. It’s an embarrassment for London and for us," adding that the authorities would launch a full investigation into the matter. Although the behaviour of some protesters at the fringe of the demonstration was inadequate, the vast majority protested peacefully. The march that was organised by the National Union of Students and the University and College Union was supported by speeches, a video campaign and impassioned pleas against the government’s plans. In the House of Commons, the Liberal Democrat Party deputy, Nick Clegg, came under attack over tuition fees, and tensions boiled over as the UK prime minister, David Cameron found himself in China agreeing with a student’s observations that raising tuition fees would mean there would be less pressure to charge overseas students higher fees.
In the midst of freshers’ week, many have experienced the feeling of meeting a dubious individual and subsequently engaging in acts of regret. This sentiment was expressed by a speaker who sought to highlight the potential negative outcomes of such encounters.
In response to accusations that the Tories were responsible for the situation, Clegg refuted the notion and maintained that the government’s plans offer a just and progressive solution to a complex issue. He emphasized that lower earners would have less of a financial burden and higher earners would contribute more to provide a subsidy for underprivileged students to attend university.
Recently, Vince Cable, who oversees the university sector, stated in Parliament that the Liberal Democrats’ pre-election promise was unfeasible. He acknowledged the commonality of political parties veering off course.
