As a new wave of anti-tuition fees protests begins, a large-scale campaign has been launched to ban the police tactic of ‘kettling’ protesters. We look at the arguments against the police method of forced containment, and ask whether protesters are right to claim it breaches their fundamental human rights.
Aaron Porter, president of the National Union of Students, has revealed disturbing findings this week from his discussions with university executives. He predicts that, contrary to government promises, a high percentage of universities will choose to charge the maximum tuition fees of £9000.
As the student movement picks up its placards for a renewed assault on the government’s tuition fees policy and education cuts, it risks being derailed by division in the ranks. Aaron Porter urges a considered, targeted campaign whilst the more radical activists want to fight on with protests and marches to have the policy revoked. Which is the right path for this new breed of student political activism?
In the wake of the government’s controversial decision to raise tuition fees in England to £9000 and subsequent withdrawl of some of their key access schemes, top accountancy firm KPMG has unveiled plans to cover the cost of tuition fees for school leavers entering university as part of their training program. Will other businesses follow suit, and will this be a positive move for access to higher education in England?
Following the controversial vote to raise tuition fees in England to £9000, the government has been quick to backtrack on the generous aid and access packages they outlined whilst desperately drumming up support and votes for the policy in Parliament. Latest to be thrown into doubt is the scheme whereby the government would waive a year’s fees for free school meals students, which now seems unlikely to be implemented.
Having raised eyebrows with his refusal to vote for the coalition government’s controversial tuition fees policy, Simon Hughes has hit the headlines again with his new appointment as advocate for access to education. Is his appointment a genuine effort by Cameron and Clegg to boost input and support for those from underpriveleged backgrounds, or a highly cynical publicity stunt to mollify outraged voters and protesters? And has Hughes himself abandoned his principles by accepting the position?
A wave of allegations and legal claims have begun against the Metropolitan police amidst concerns that their heavy-handed treatment of peaceful student protesters was unlawful. Legal experts claim that the use of police violence and the tactic of immediate ‘kettling’ as students demonstrated against higher tuition fees and unversity funding cuts represented a serious breach of their human rights.
Following the outbreak of violence at the recent tuition fees protests, questions have been raised about the level and necessity of violence used by the Metropolitan Police force against students. Whilst heavy-handed resistance is understandable in the case of the very small number of protesters acting violently themselves, disturbing accounts have come to light describing the brutal treatement of innocent bystanders and peaceful student protesters as well.
