Vol. 74/No. 45      November 29, 2010

When the National Union of Students (NUS) and the University and College Union called the demonstration, they expected 20,000 people. The NUS said more than 50,000 took part. Chanting, “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts!” protesters marched through the government district.

Alongside official placards saying “Fund our future. Stop education cuts,” there were a wide range of handmade signs. “Keep university universal,” said one; “Education for the masses, not the upper classes,” another read. Several said, “Your profit, our debt.”

Devangana Kalita, from Sussex University, told the Militant, “Those who will take the hit are not those who are responsible for the crisis.”

“Seeing what happened in France, something has to break,” said Sarah Warriner, referring to the recent widespread strikes and demonstrations there against the hike in the retirement age.

The government’s October 20 austerity program cuts funds for higher education by 40 percent, as part of a sweeping assault that includes raising the retirement age, slashing government jobs, reducing housing funds, and other cutbacks.

Funding for university arts, humanities, and social sciences is to be ended altogether. A number of protesters highlighted this, with one group leading a chant of “Save our arts school.”

The maximum tuition that universities can charge will rise from £3,290 to £9,000 (£1=US$1.61). As is the case today, money would be lent to students by the government and then loan payments would be deducted from graduates’ salaries. They would be required to pay back 9 percent of what they earn above a threshold of £21,000 per year. If the debt is not paid off after 30 years it will be wiped out.

The government claims the lowest-paid 25 percent of graduates will pay less than they currently do, pointing to a rise in maintenance grants for students from households earning less than £25,000. In addition, the government will institute a raise in the threshold at which graduates have to start paying back their loans, and a “progressive tapering” system where those earning less pay less interest. This is in line with the “fairness” argument that the government has used to justify other budget cuts.

Near the end of the marching route, a small group of protesters broke through the glass front of the building that houses the Conservative Party headquarters and took over the lobby for several hours. This sideshow has become the main focus of media attention, with only passing mention made of the tens of thousands who joined the largest protest against the government’s austerity measures so far in the United Kingdom.

Pamela Holmes contributed to this article.  
 
 
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