2010 United Kingdom student protests

Demonstrations against education funding cuts 2010 United Kingdom student protests infobox 2 250 London Protest 2010 - 5164008987.jpg London Student Protest 2010.jpg Anti-cuts and tuition fees, Demo Lition 10.11.10 - 5166016217.jpg Rooftop protest at 30 Millbank.jpg 10 November protest against government cuts to education and tuition fees 2010 11 10 2010 12 09 London Protest Increased tuition fees yes Lower tuition fees 30,000 to 50,000 1 Fees were not raised in Wales or Northern IrelandFees are still raised in England April 2014 January 2020 thumb|right|150px|alt=Logo reading "demo–lition 10.11.10"|The official logo for the demonstration on 10 November. The 2010 United Kingdom student protests were a series of demonstrations in November and December 2010 that took place in several areas of the country, with the focal point of protests being in central London. Largely student-led, the protests were held in opposition to planned spending cuts to further education and an increase of the cap on tuition fees by the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government following their review into higher education funding in England. Student groups said that the intended cuts to education were excessive, would damage higher education, give students higher debts, and broke campaign promises made by politicians. The first major demonstration occurred on 10 November, jointly organised by the National Union of Students (NUS) and the University and College Union (UCU). It involved between 30,000 and 50,000 demonstrators marching through central London, with several hundred branching off to attack and occupy the Conservative Party headquarters. This measure brought condemnation from the establishment and a divide within the student movement over the appropriateness of such tactics. The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) called for a mass walk-out and demonstration on 24 November, with occupations taking place at campuses throughout the UK. A march in central London was kettled in Whitehall, resulting in violent confrontation with protesters. Further demonstrations were held in central London on 30 November, when police clashed with protesters and kettled them in Trafalgar Square, while other protests took place throughout the country. Another central London protest took place on 9 December, the day that the proposed reforms were passed into law, with protesters clashing with police and being kettled in Parliament Square. The student protests were unsuccessful in their aim of preventing the government's reforms in England. However, in Wales and Northern Ireland, devolved authorities decided not to increase the fees, which led to differing fee levels for the devolved nations.Student tuition fee protest ends with 153 arrests https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11877034 BBC News 30 November 2010Northern Ireland university tuition fees frozen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14843377 BBC News 8 September 2011 The demonstrations were highly controversial in the UK, being condemned for instances of violence and vandalism by both the establishment and by protestors. The behaviour of the Metropolitan Police in dealing with the protests was also widely criticised for alleged instances of untruthfulness and excessive use of force. Background The Browne Report and proposed reforms 300px|thumb|right|Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (right) were at the heart of much student anger In November 2009, the Labour Party government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown commissioned a study into higher education funding in England. Chaired by Lord Browne of Madingley, the former chief executive of BP, the report was to be titled the Browne Review.Polly Curtis https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/nov/09/tuition-fees-rise-review-universities Former BP head to run tuition fees review Education The Guardian London 9 November 2009 16 May 2010 In the build up to the 2010 general election, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, pledged that he would vote against any proposed increase in tuition fees if elected to Parliament.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11732787 Nick Clegg regrets signing anti-tuition fees pledge BBC News 11 November 2010 11 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101113230950/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11732787 13 November 2010 live Following the election and resulting hung parliament, Clegg made an agreement with the Conservative Party to form a coalition government in which Conservative leader David Cameron became Prime Minister and Clegg became Deputy Prime Minister. The Browne Review was subsequently published in October 2010, and contained the suggestion that the government should remove outright the existing cap of £3,290 on tuition fees. The government rejected this proposal, instead choosing to keep a cap but increasing it to £9,000.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11483638 Q&A: University funding BBC 9 December 2010 13 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101216044737/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11483638 16 December 2010 live David Willetts, the Minister of State for Universities and Science, stated that the measures were "a very progressive package" and "at the end of this we will have a better university system than we have at the moment". Contravening his pre-election pledge, Clegg expressed support for the rise in the cap on tuition fees, which would result in future students paying higher fees for their university education.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11724842 Nick Clegg under fire in Commons over tuition fee rise BBC News 10 November 2010 11 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101111070753/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11724842 11 November 2010 live Student opposition Students' union leaders were critical of the cuts. The National Union of Students (NUS) feared that the increased cap on tuition fees would prevent potential students from poorer backgrounds from attending university.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11732264 Tuition fees protest 'unacceptable' says PM BBC News 11 November 2010 11 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101111080607/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11732264 11 November 2010 live Many protesters focused in particular on Clegg's campaign promise that he would oppose any rise in tuition fees. David Barclay, the president of the University of Oxford's students' union, said: "This is the day a generation of politicians learn that though they might forget their promises, students won't." Rahul Mansigani, the students' union president for the University of Cambridge, said: "Large numbers of students voted for the Liberal Democrats, and there is no question that the pledge is a binding commitment."https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/8062185/Oxford-and-Cambridge-students-oppose-fee-increase.html Oxford and Cambridge students oppose fee increase The Telegraph 14 October 2010 11 November 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101030150622/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/8062185/Oxford-and-Cambridge-students-oppose-fee-increase.html 30 October 2010 live Two weeks before, on 28 October, a protest was held in the University of Oxford to coincide with a visit from the Liberal Democrat minister and Business Secretary Vince Cable. Cable cancelled his visit after taking advice from the police about the protest.Harrison Angela https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11646976 BBC News – Oxford students stage tuition fees protest BBC 28 October 2010 4 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101102070736/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11646976 2 November 2010 live Several days later, on 3 November, there was a student protest in Dublin. The subsequent London protest was described by one Irish reporter as "scenes bizarrely similar" to those in the Irish capital.http://www.thejournal.ie/sound-familiar-student-protest-in-london-turns-nasty-2010-11/ Sound familiar? Student protest in London turns nasty 10 November 2010 thejournal.ie 10 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101112012929/http://www.thejournal.ie/sound-familiar-student-protest-in-london-turns-nasty-2010-11/ 12 November 2010 live The initial event was the largest student protest in Britain since the Labour government first proposed the Teaching and Higher Education Act in 1998.http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23896267-thousands-join-london-march-in-protest-at-soaring-tuition-fees.do Thousands join London march in protest at soaring tuition fees The Evening Standard UK 10 November 2010 17 January 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110101153202/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23896267-thousands-join-london-march-in-protest-at-soaring-tuition-fees.do 1 January 2011 dmy-all 10 November London march thumb|right|10 November demonstration at the Palace of Westminster 2 300 London Protest 2010 - 5164008987.jpg London Student Protest 2010.jpg Anti-cuts and tuition fees, Demo Lition 10.11.10 - 5166016217.jpg 10 November protest against government cuts to education and tuition fees The first major demonstration in protest at the government's proposed reforms was held on 10 November 2010 in central London, jointly organised by the National Union of Students (NUS) and the University and College Union (UCU). This demonstration was officially known as "Fund Our Future: Stop Education Cuts", although also termed "Demo 2010" or "Demo-lition 10.11.10". http://www.demo2010.org/promote-the-demo/ Promote the demo Demo 2010 National Union of Students and the University and College Union 10 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101005063804/http://www.demo2010.org/promote-the-demo/ 5 October 2010 live Arriving from all regions of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,http://www.u.tv/News/NI-students-in-London-fees-protests/08e54d4c-1ebb-4389-be07-4d07b0fd6ad6 NI students in London fees protests UTV News Online 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101112022838/http://www.u.tv/News/NI-students-in-London-fees-protests/08e54d4c-1ebb-4389-be07-4d07b0fd6ad6 12 November 2010 live approximately 30,000 to 52,000 protesters attended the demonstration.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822 Student tuition fee protest breaks into Conservative HQ BBC News 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101111063236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11726822 11 November 2010 livehttps://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/10/student-protest-fees-violent Student protest over fees turn violent The Guardian Online 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 London Paul Lewis Jeevan Vasagar Rachel Williams Matthew Taylor https://web.archive.org/web/20101112061311/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/10/student-protest-fees-violent 12 November 2010 livehttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/blog/2010/nov/10/demo-2010-student-protests-live Demo 2010 student protests – live coverage The Guardian Online 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 London Adam Gabbatt Jonathan Haynes https://web.archive.org/web/20101110162714/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2010/nov/10/demo-2010-student-protests-live 10 November 2010 live The demonstration's route was pre-approved with the Metropolitan Police Service, with marchers moving from Whitehall past Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister, and then past the Houses of Parliament, chanting such slogans as "no ifs, no buts – no education cuts", "they say cut back – we say fight back", "I say Tories – you say scum".http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6A93CU20101110 Student fee protest turns violent Reuters' 10 November 2010 12 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101113045304/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6A93CU20101110 13 November 2010 dead Journalist Harry Mount of The Daily Telegraph, said: "Perhaps because their cause was justified, the students I saw had none of the swaggering, self-righteous manner of the student protester of legend."http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harrymount/100048723/the-students-and-police-i-saw-today-were-utterly-dignified/ https://web.archive.org/web/20101112094136/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harrymount/100048723/the-students-and-police-i-saw-today-were-utterly-dignified/ dead 12 November 2010 The students and police I saw today were utterly dignified The Telegraph 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 London Political groups that sent contingents to take part included the Labour Party, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party, Revolution, Young Communist League, Revolutionary Communist Group, and Communist Students.http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/97497 Students shake the halls of power The Morning Star 11 November 2010 11 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101112014110/http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/97497 12 November 2010 dead dmy-all http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/index.php/education/1948-students-fight-back-against-attacks-on-higher-education.html Students fight back against attacks on higher education The Revolutionary Communist Group 11 November 2010 11 November 2010http://communiststudents.org.uk/?p=4926 Report and photos from 'The Battle of Millbank' Communist Students 11 November 2010 3 January 2011 7 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111007020534/http://communiststudents.org.uk/?p=4926 dead A few members of parliament (MPs) joined the demonstration, among them Labour MP John McDonnell, who told reporters: "This is the biggest workers' and students' demonstration in decades. It just shows what can be done when people get angry. We must build on this". Representatives of the National Pensioners Convention also took part, with the group's banner carrier, Janet Shapiro, stating that: "We're here because we believe education should be free, funded by the taxpayer. It is something that benefits the community, the country."http://www.channel4.com/news/student-protest-an-ugly-turn-to-peaceful-demo Student protest: an ugly turn to peaceful demo Channel 4 News 10 November 2010 12 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101113164750/http://www.channel4.com/news/student-protest-an-ugly-turn-to-peaceful-demo 13 November 2010 live At the end of the march, a rally took place outside Tate Britain where demonstrators were addressed by the UCU general secretary Sally Hunt, who introduced a series of clips displayed on a giant plasma screen featuring Clegg giving a series of promises to the electorate on tuition fees, all of which he had subsequently broken. Hunt stated that making the public university system in Britain "the most expensive in the world" was unfair, that discouraging young people from going to college was not progressive, and that the increase in tuition fees represented further debts for students. The rally was also addressed by NUS President Aaron Porter and the Trades Union Congress Deputy general secretary Frances O'Grady. O'Grady offered the message to the government that: "Don't you dare tell us we're all in this together. The deficit certainly wasn't caused by the students." The protest was scheduled to end at 2 pm, but slightly overran. The Metropolitan Police were expecting 20,000 demonstrators to turn out, well below the 50,000 figure most widely quoted in the press after the event, and did not expect any violence, so deployed only 225 officers to police the event. Millbank occupation In the afternoon, as protesters passed the Houses of Parliament and moved towards Tate Britain for the rally, several thousand surrounded 30 Millbank in Westminster, campaign headquarters of the Conservative Party, despite attempts by NUS organisers to stop them.https://www.ft.com/content/0db5a246-ecdb-11df-88eb-00144feab49a London student protest turns violent Financial Times Online 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101113023805/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0db5a246-ecdb-11df-88eb-00144feab49a.html 13 November 2010 livehttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-11/cameron-criticizes-policing-of-london-riot-after-attack-on-conservative-hq.html Cameron Criticizes Policing of London Riot After Attack on Conservative HQ Bloomberg 11 November 2010 12 November 2010 Robert Hutton Thomas Penny Forcing their way past the limited police presence,https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/10/met-police-student-protest-London Met admits policing of student protest was 'an embarrassment' The Guardian Online 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101113190553/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/10/met-police-student-protest-london 13 November 2010 approximately 200 people broke in and occupied the building, whilst a thousand more cheered and supported them from outside.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/nov/10/student-protests-nus-lobby-anarchists Student protest: the NUS lobby wasn't enough for us The Guardian online 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 London Patrick Smith https://web.archive.org/web/20101113160248/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/10/student-protests-nus-lobby-anarchists 13 November 2010 live These protesters lit placards on fire, and smashed windows before occupying and vandalising the reception area. Staff working in the building were evacuated by police around 1 pm. Around 100 protesters proceeded to the roof of the building, chanting slogans including "Greece! France! Now here too". Initial press sources blamed this action on a group of anarchists. This was later disputed, with a reporter from The Guardian noting that most of the protesters occupying the building were students who had been radicalised in opposition to the cuts, and were not all political anarchists. 300px|thumb|left|Protesters on the roof of 30 Millbank Riot police from the Territorial Support Group arrived an hour after the building was occupied to remove the protesters. In retaliation, the police were pelted with eggs, rotten fruit, banners, and shards of glass.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8123194/Student-tuition-fee-protest-turns-violent-as-Tory-headquarters-evacuated.html Student tuition fee protest turns violent as Tory headquarters evacuated The Telegraph Online 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 London Heidi Blake https://web.archive.org/web/20101112073334/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8123194/Student-tuition-fee-protest-turns-violent-as-Tory-headquarters-evacuated.html 12 November 2010 live One of the protesters on the building's roof, Edward Woolard, threw a fire extinguisher onto the police below. He received instant criticism from some of the protesting crowds, who called on those on the roof to "stop throwing shit".Woolard, an 18-year-old student at Brockenhurst College, was arrested for attempted murder in Southampton on 16 November, and transferred to London for questioning.https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5j0PBCtyIzkZmHRIDiEm1MM45zTZA?docId=B2923971289875606A000 Man, 18, held in riot fire extinguisher probe Press Association -via – Google 16 November 2010 16 November 2010June 2024 medicmedic He subsequently went on trial for violent disorder rather than attempted murder, something for which he pleaded guilty, which carried with it a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment under the Public Order Act. Tower rioter says sorry Metro 25 November 2010 On 11 January 2011 Woollard was sentenced to 32 months in a young offenders institution. nb To control the situation, police used the controversial technique of kettling to trap the protesters within Millbank Square, the forecourt to 30 Millbank, whilst protesters on the outside of the building were pushed back. The police began letting demonstrators out of the building from 6:30 pm, arresting those whom they believed were responsible for vandalism. The demonstration led to a disruption in London's transport, with journalist Harry Mount stating: "I have never seen London traffic so jammed in 39 years living in the city." Alongside the occupation of Millbank, a smaller number of protesters had travelled to the headquarters of the Liberal Democrats in Cowley Street, where a car window was smashed. In all, 14 people were injured and required hospitalisation, at least three of whom were police officers, whilst police arrested 35 of the demonstrators, sending them off to various police stations around the city. Later accounts that the numbers arrested had risen to 54, (33 men and 21 women), ten of whom were aged under 18 and the majority of whom were students.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/12/student-fees-protest-fire-extinguisher Student fees protest: Man arrested over fire extinguisher thrown from roof The Guardian London 12 November 2010 12 November 2010 Vikram Dodd https://web.archive.org/web/20101115193201/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/12/student-fees-protest-fire-extinguisher 15 November 2010 live Response to the Millbank occupation Students and unions NUS President Aaron Porter condemned the occupation of 30 Millbank, claiming that it was caused by "those who are here to cause trouble" and that he was "disgusted that the actions of a minority of idiots are trying to undermine 50,000 who came to make a peaceful protest." General Secretary of UCU Sally Hunt also condemned the occupation, declaring that "the overwhelming majority of staff and students on the march came here to send a clear and peaceful message to the politicians.... The actions of a minority, out of 50,000 people, is regrettable." Oxford University's Student Union (OUSU) President David Barclay issued a statement declaring that "OUSU supports the rights of students to protest non-violently. It is hugely unfortunate that some people yesterday were injured and that arrests were made."http://www.cherwell.org/content/11006 Student protest: youth in revolt Cherwell 12 November 2010 12 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101115050149/http://www.cherwell.org/content/11006 15 November 2010 live Contrastingly, other student leaders, trade unionists, and academics expressed support for elements of the occupation of 30 Millbank. Amongst others, the president of University of London Union Clare Solomon, the Education Officer of the London School of Economics, Ashok Kumar, the Education and Campaigns Officer at University College London, Michael Chessum, the National Union of Students' black students' officer Kanjay Sesay, the NUS' LGBT students' officers Vicki Baars and Alan Bailey, the President of the RMT trade union Alex Gordon and the playwright Lee Hall all signed a statement declaring that: We reject any attempt to characterise the Millbank protest as small, "extremist" or unrepresentative of our movement. We celebrate the fact that thousands of students were willing to send a message to the Tories that we will fight to win. Occupations are a long established tradition in the student movement that should be defended. It is this kind of action in France and Greece that has been an inspiration to many workers and students in Britain faced with such a huge assault on jobs, benefits, housing and the public sector. We stand with the protesters, and anyone who is victimised as a result of the protest.https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/11/students-protests-national-24-november Student protests planned on a national scale on 24 November The Guardian Online 11 November 2010 10 November 2010 London Jeevan Vasagar Matthew Taylor https://web.archive.org/web/20101112102658/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/11/students-protests-national-24-november 12 November 2010 live Solomon informed the BBC that she had "no problem with direct actions or occupation", and when questioned regarding the damage done to Millbank, responded that "these were a few windows of the Tory Party headquarters – what they're doing to our education is absolutely millions... and they want to complain about a few windows." Some socialist and student commentators criticised Porter and the NUS for their response to the situation, accusing them of careerism.There's just something about Palestine London Student 8–21 November 2010 Meanwhile, various university Conservative societies around London condemned the protests, and criticised students' unions for providing the "false impression that the majority of students are left-wing" and opposed to the governments' proposed reforms.Conservative societies criticise Unions' anti-cut campaign London Student 8–21 November 2010 Government and press 300px|thumb|right|Anti-Conservative graffiti — the words "Tory scum" next to a penis graffiti — on a wall of 30 Millbank, created during the protest. A spray-painted circle-A symbol can also be seen, along with a poster displaying a skull and crossbones with the words "Don't kill the arts", and discarded placards, one reading "No ifs, no buts" (part of a slogan ending "no Tory cuts"). The Metropolitan Police Service admitted that they were unprepared to deal with the occupation of 30 Millbank, something which they had not been expecting. Sir Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police's Commissioner, told the press that he was "embarrassed" by how police had lost control of the situation, and condemned what he saw as "thuggish, loutish behaviour by criminals". Stephenson remarked that "the one thing I would say is that it must have been an awful time for the people trying to go about their daily business in those buildings. I feel terribly sorry that they have had to go through what must have been quite a traumatic experience... We are determined to make sure that sort of thing does not happen again on our streets. I'm clear on that, the Met is clear on that." His views were echoed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who stated: "This is intolerable and all those involved will be pursued and they will face the full force of the law... The Metropolitan Police commissioner has assured me that there will be a vigorous post-incident investigation. He will also be reviewing police planning and response." Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the occupation of Millbank, stating that he would not abandon his position on the issue of education cuts. Speaking from the 2010 G20 Seoul summit in South Korea, Cameron said the occasion had been "extremely serious" and praised the "bravery" of the police officers. He also stated that the actions of the protesters were "unacceptable" and that "I was worried for the safety of the people in the building because I know people who work there". The following morning, Clegg went on ITV's Daybreak to state: "I should have been more careful perhaps in signing that pledge [to not increase tuition fees]... At the time [prior to his election] I really thought we could do it. I just didn't know, of course, before we came into government, quite what the state of the finances were."http://www.itv.com/daybreak/news/nickcleggdefendsthecoalition https://archive.today/20120903211504/http://www.itv.com/daybreak/news/nickcleggdefendsthecoalition dead 3 September 2012 ITV 11 November 2010 ITV Daybreak Interview 11 November 2010 A reporter from The Daily Telegraph commented that the "anarchic behaviour" of those occupying Millbank was "counter-productive" to the students' cause, and that it was the photographs of "a few hundred vicious hotheads" that would "linger" in the public imagination rather than that of the main march.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8124531/Student-tuition-fee-protest-Infantile-behaviour.html Student tuition fee protest: Infantile behaviour The Telegraph Online 10 November 2010 10 November 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101112073344/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8124531/Student-tuition-fee-protest-Infantile-behaviour.html 12 November 2010 live The Financial Times reported that an anonymous vice-chancellor from a London university had told them that the violence would undermine the campaign, and that it "could not have gone better for the government. George Osborne will be delighted." Related protests In the following days, smaller protests were held in Manchester and Cambridge, with no violent confrontations.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11737858 Students in protest at Manchester University BBC News Manchester Online 11 November 2010 14 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101114003035/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11737858 14 November 2010 live On 11 November, student protesters occupied a building at the University of Manchester for three hours, demanding to see the accounts that discussed how government funding cuts would affect students. Between 60 and 100 students held a peaceful sit-in at Manchester's John Owens Building on Oxford Road after an NUS meeting earlier that day. Representing this group, protester Jeremy Buck said: "This is just what a few students who had the energy left after the London demo managed to achieve... Imagine what will happen when they have enough time to organise properly for the 24th. It is a matter of watch this space." That same day, protesters at the University of Cambridge held a demonstration against the cuts at the university's annual science, engineering and technology careers fair. On 23 November, anti-education cuts protesters had assembled outside of the offices of The Guardian newspaper, where Clegg was giving his Hugo Young lecture. They brought out an effigy of Clegg, sentencing it to death and executing it by hanging, shouting the slogan "Nick Clegg, shame on you, shame on you for turning blue".https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2010/nov/23/cuts-protest-nick-clegg Cuts protest: 'Nick Clegg must die' The Guardian Online 23 November 2010 25 November 2010 London Mustafa Khalili https://web.archive.org/web/20101124021457/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2010/nov/23/cuts-protest-nick-clegg 24 November 2010 live 24 November A second significant demonstration took place in London on 24 November, which again led to clashes with police, this time outside Whitehall, after police kettled a large crowd. We Face New Era of Riots, Warns the Met The Evening Standard UK 25 November 2010March 2016https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11829102 Students stage day of protests over tuition fee rises BBC News 24 November 2010 25 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101125040746/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11829102 25 November 2010 live An organisation known as the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) organised a mass national walk-out of education and protest for 24 November.https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/24/student-school-pupils-protests-walkout Second day of student protests – how the demonstrations happened The Guardian Online 25 November 2010 25 November 2010 London Adam Gabbatt David Batty https://web.archive.org/web/20101129185753/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/24/student-school-pupils-protests-walkout 29 November 2010 live As a part of this, demonstrations were held in London and other locations across the United Kingdom.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/nov/24/student-protests-childrens-crusade This isn't just a student protest. It's a children's crusade Laurie Penny London The Guardian 24 November 2010 17 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110123214440/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/24/student-protests-childrens-crusade 23 January 2011 live According to a group on the social networking website Facebook, 25,000 people had signed up to take the day off from studies and protest prior to the actual event, and these protesters included not only university students, but also school children who had walked out of lessons to join the demonstration. The NCAFC encouraged protesters to use social media to invite others to join them. One of those protesting was Jessica Linley, a law student at the University of Nottingham who had been crowned Miss England in September 2010 and who used her status to gain media coverage for the cause, telling press that she would not be able to afford to go to university if the tuition fees were increased, and that "these sweeping austerity measures are unacceptable". Whitehall march Several thousand protesters, most of whom were students or school children, gathered in Trafalgar Square, central London, late in the morning. They proceeded toward Whitehall shouting the slogan, "fuck David Cameron". Believing that there had been a lack of officers at 10 November demonstration, the Metropolitan Police drafted in 1000 police officers from across Greater London to oversee the event, almost five times the number at 10 November.June 2020 Police informed press that they planned to monitor fringe elements within the demonstration whom they believed planned to encourage "vandalism and violence". thumb|left|A vandalised police vehicle on Whitehall At Whitehall, just before 1 pm, police prevented the protesters from reaching Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament, setting up a line of riot police to kettle the protesters. A reporter The Guardian described the crowd at this point as being "predominantly good natured, although very noisy". Nonetheless, the demonstrators tried to push through the police line, leading to clashes. An unoccupied police van which had been left in the midst of the crowd was vandalised; protesters rocked it back and forth, climbed on its roof, smashed its windows, wrote graffiti on it and threw a smoke bomb inside. A group of school girls encircled the van, urging people not to vandalise it. One of them later told reporters that "the cause that we're here for today isn't about 'I hate the police, I want to burn the police and I want to destroy everything they represent.'" The other face of the student protests Metro 25 November 2010 At around 6 pm, mounted police charged at the north end of the crowd to push them back; despite video evidence police denied that this was an actual charge, describing it as crowd control using horses.Adam Gabbatt and Paul Lewis https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/26/police-student-protests-horses-charge Student protests: video shows mounted police charging London crowd UK news The Guardian UK 26 November 2010 4 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101127212124/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/26/police-student-protests-horses-charge 27 November 2010 livehttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/26/student-protests-police-under-fire Student protests: Met under fire for charging at demonstrators The Guardian Online 26 November 2010 27 November 2010 London Adam Gabbatt Paul Lewis Matthew Taylor Rachel Williams https://web.archive.org/web/20101128194109/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/26/student-protests-police-under-fire 28 November 2010 live Roughly 1000 protesters broke free of the police kettle, running throughout central London while pursued by police; The Guardian'''s Paul Lewis stated that "police were caught in a game of cat and mouse, along Charing Cross, Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus." Some of these protesters committed acts of vandalism along the side streets, including knocking over rubbish bins and throwing traffic cones into the road. Various bus shelters and ticket machines in the area were vandalised, with Transport for London diverting buses away from the unrest. Approximately 200 protesters were unable to escape and remained kettled in Whitehall. Police falsely informed press that the crowd were provided with toilet facilities and water; protesters disputed these claims on social media, with ULU President Clare Solomon commenting on Facebook: "we're still illegally kettled in the freezing cold on Whitehall. No food, water or toilets despite what the police are telling the media. Thousands of young people needing to go home." To keep warm, protesters set fire to a ticket machine within the Square, prompting riot police to secure the machine and put out the flames. From 9 to 10 pm, police permitted the rest of the Whitehall protesters to leave, approximately nine to ten hours after they had first been contained, some being searched as they left. During the clashes, police arrested 41 protesters.June 2020 Occupations and local protests thumb|right|A student protest in Liverpool on 24 November 2010 Across the UK, protesters occupied university buildings in at least 12 universities. On 23 November, protesters occupied the picture gallery corridor of Royal Holloway, University of London. They were later joined by supportive members of university staff who took part in what was labelled a "teach-in". On 24 November, the Language Centre at London South Bank University was occupied for 51 hours by over 100 students as part of the "Defend LSBU! Defend Our Education!" campaign. Defend LSBU! Defend Our Education That same day, students occupied the Jeremy Bentham Room in University College London, stating that they were protesting against "savage cuts to higher education and government attempts to force society to pay for a crisis it didn't cause." A BBC reporter visited the occupation, remarking that the protesters "seem as distant from the old left as they do from the new right" and that "you get a reminder that these are students born in the 1990s. They're quoting Harry Potter rather than Che Guevara." Coughlan Sean https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11874633 What's it like in a university occupation? BBC News 30 November 2010 30 November 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101202043941/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11874633 2 December 2010 live Protesters also occupied the University of East London, demanding that university managers "put pressure on the government on the issue of H[higher] E[ducation] cuts and tuition fee rises". On 24 November, students and supporters went into occupation of Appleton Tower at the University of Edinburgh, stating "We stand firm alongside all other students, university staff and others nationwide affected by education cuts and the risk this poses to the future of higher education."https://www.theguardian.com/edinburgh/2010/nov/24/edinburgh-university-cuts-protest-occupation Edinburgh students occupy university in cuts protest The Guardian London 24 November 2010 15 December 2010 Michael MacLeod At Manchester's University Place, 3000 students assembled to demonstrate, but several hundred broke away to march towards the town hall. A group of about 100 occupied a lecture theatre in the Roscoe Building. At the University of Oxford, students initially occupied the Radcliffe Camera.http://www.witneygazette.co.uk/education/8687743.UPDATE__Students_continue_Radcliffe_occupation/ UPDATE: Students continue Radcliffe occupation Witneygazette.co.uk 25 November 2010 13 December 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110726124639/http://www.witneygazette.co.uk/education/8687743.UPDATE__Students_continue_Radcliffe_occupation/ 26 July 2011 dmy-all At the University of Cambridge, 200 students scaled the fence of Senate House and marched onto the grounds of King's College, then on 26 November students started an 11-day occupation of part of Old Schools, the main administrative block of the university.http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/2940 Students take control of Old Schools Varsity Publications 26 November 2010 20 January 2012 At the University of Bristol, 2000 protesters clashed with police when they tried to move into the city centre. Four were arrested. In Brighton, 3000 demonstrators marched through the city, with nearly 50 occupying a university building. Students join forces in protest over fees Metro 25 November 2010 Hundreds of students from Kingston University and various local schools staged an impromptu march through the town and a sit down protest at College Roundabout, leading to one arrest. In the morning of 24 November, demonstrators at the University of Birmingham occupied the Aston Webb building, the site of the Prime Ministerial debates earlier in the year; they issued a statement in which they declared that "we believe the government's cuts to be economically unnecessary, unfair and ideologically motivated" and that "if [the government] continue to destroy the livelihoods of the majority to benefit the rich and powerful minority, they will face increasingly widespread and radical action." In Leeds, protesters amassed at the University of Leeds. Hundreds of them had walked out of the local Allerton Grange High School to join the demonstration, and later occupied the Michael Sadler lecture theatre and a room at Leeds Metropolitan University. A room at the University of Plymouth was also occupied.Staff writer (9 December 2010). "Plymouth, Totnes and Exeter students in fees protests". BBC News (via BBC News). Retrieved 28 February 2011. At Cardiff University, around 200 protesters occupied a lecture theatre after failing to gain entry to the vice-chancellor's building. Response right "The great majority of protests across the country [on Wednesday] passed off peacefully... The police let the demonstrators march through town centres and take part in some direct action. However, the actions of the Metropolitan Police yesterday were absolutely outrageous. It's a real scandal that the Met has taken these actions and we would urge them to change their tactics for further demonstrations." Simon Hardy, of the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts During the Whitehall incident, the Metropolitan Police publicly defended their use of kettling, with Chief Inspector Jane Connors claiming that they had only used it as "a last resort". She stated: "it's a valid tactic. Police officers came under attack and we needed to make sure the violence didn't spread out across the London streets." The police came under increasing criticism however, particularly as there were large numbers of children and young teenagers in the crowd, who were held for nearly ten hours in near-zero temperatures. Green Party MP Caroline Lucas brought up the topic in the House of Commons that afternoon, stating: "there are many hundreds of students and school children who have been kettled for over four hours and are going to be out there for another several hours, according to the police, in the freezing cold... whatever one thinks of the student protest, [holding people against their will in the contained crowd was] neither proportionate, nor, indeed, effective." At a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority the following day, the Metropolitan Police's Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson defended the tactics. He condemned the protest. He was criticised by Jenny Jones, a Green Party member of the London Assembly, who told him: "when you imprison thousands of people, which is essentially what you did yesterday, you do have a duty of care to them... You kept people for nine-and-a-half hours. You punished innocent people for going on a protest." A spokesperson for Prime Minister Cameron stated that "people have a right to engage in lawful and peaceful protest, but there is no place for violence or intimidation", while education minister David Willetts responded by claiming that protesting students did not understand the government's plans. Clegg stated on BBC Radio 2 that "I hate in politics, as in life, to make promises that you then find you can't keep. We made a promise we can't deliver – we didn't win the election outright and there are compromises in coalition." Labour Party leader Ed Miliband stated that he would not rule out joining further demonstrations, remarking that "I was quite tempted to go out and talk to them [the protesters]. Peaceful demonstrations are part of our society. As Labour leader I am willing to talk to people who are part of them." 30 November Central London protests thumb|right|A number of protesters in central London on 30 November 2010 A third central London protest was organised for Tuesday 30 November, a day that saw cold temperatures and snow in the city. Protesters assembled at Trafalgar Square, but a police line prevented their march down Whitehall towards the Houses of Parliament; the NCAFC accused the Police of "pre-emptively block[ing]" the protest route. Coughlan Sean Students tuition fee protesters face police lines BBC News 30 November 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11877034 30 November 2009 Fearing that they would be kettled in the Square, protesters dispersed throughout the city center, pursued by police. Fahy Natalie http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Tuition-Fees-Student-Protests-Gather-Pace-Across-UK-And-In-Central-London/Article/201011415841729?lpos=Politics_Top_Stories_Header_3&lid=ARTICLE_15841729_Tuition_Fees%3A_Student_Protests_Gather_Pace_Across_UK_And_In_Central_London_ Fresh Student Protests Kick Off Across UK Sky News Online 30 November 2010 30 November 2010 Other officers stood photographing and filming the students for later identification, while police vans blocked off certain streets. Some protesters chanted "Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest!" and "no ifs, no buts, no education cuts", and others blew vuvuzelas and played reggae from portable stereo systems. A BBC reporter talked to members of the demonstration, noting that while many desired a peaceful outcome, others believed that violent confrontation with the police was inevitable. Many were angry with how they had been portrayed in the media, with one commenting that confrontation was not caused by "hardcore anarchists" but by "students who are very, very angry".Sharp Heather Students march... and march... in central London BBC News 30 November 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11882582 1 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101201044802/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11882582 1 December 2010 live Many protesters ran onto Pall Mall and then past St James's Park. Denied access to Parliament Square by police, they turned around and headed toward Westminster Abbey. A reporter from The Guardian noted that "the march is fracturing – people are going up different streets and getting lost. Texts come through from the front, giving information." The reporter noted that police pursued protesters, and that "it feels like 'kiss chase' – or, when I see a policeman punch a boy out of the way, entirely without provocation, 'punch chase'." Gold Tanya Student demonstrations: A game of protest Monopoly The Guardian London 1 December 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/nov/30/student-protests-london-tanya-gold 1 December 2010 Many protesters returned to Trafalgar Square, where they were still unable to march down to Whitehall due to the heavy police line. The police kettled those in the Square, whilst some of the protesters waved banners with slogans such as "Don't put the kettle on, Mr. Cameron" and "I Can't Believe It's Not Thatcher". The police "put lines [of officers] across all the exits" to the kettled area of the Square, but reportedly allowed small groups of protesters to leave, even though the majority, around 150 to 200, decided to stay and continue protesting in the snow. Some protesters burned placards and one spray-painted the word "Revolution" on Nelson's Column. Others threw plastic bottles and fireworks at police lines, and at one point there "was a scuffle as a knot of policemen rushed one of the protesters, grabbing him to arrest him, and the crowd flocked angrily to the area". At another time, a group of riot police moved into the crowd of protesters to attempt to secure Nelson's Column, only to be surrounded by demonstrators shouting "Who's kettling who? We're kettling you!" Other slogans shouted at police during the protest included "Shame on you!" and "Your job's next". Police then arrested 146 demonstrators who refused to leave the Square; 139 of them were arrested for breach of the peace, whilst seven were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hmADvwkrPeVsG4vDzzF2UOhjGohQ?docId=N0366781291159321443A Activities held in tuition fee demos The Press Association 1 December 2010 1 December 2010June 2024 medicmedic Seven more had been arrested in central London earlier in the day. As one reporter noted, "above us, on the steps of the National Gallery, tourists look confused at this vision of Britain 2010, angry and fighting in the snow." Catford protest upright|thumb|Cambridge Old Schools Combination Room during an eleven-day occupation. The night before, on 28 November, a crowd of two to three hundred protesters gathered outside of Lewisham Town Hall in Catford, south London, where a council meeting was then in progress, to protest against wider public sector cuts. Several Youtube videos of the incident were shown on national news, including the BBC. Many of the protesters had come from nearby sixth forms (due to potential Education Maintenance Allowance cuts) and also from Goldsmiths College. Demonstrators, playing music and political slogans from boomboxes forced their way into the building, where a smoke bomb was let off, while another protester climbed onto the roof and unfurled a banner. Several more flares were set off outside and windows smashed, with riot police from the Territorial Support Group close by, were called and several arrests were made. H Rachel Demonstrators Rush Lewisham Town Hall To Protest Against Cuts Londonist 30 November 2010 http://londonist.com/2010/11/demonstrators-rush-lewisham-town-hall-to-protest-against-cuts.php 1 December 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101214202727/http://londonist.com/2010/11/demonstrators-rush-lewisham-town-hall-to-protest-against-cuts.php 14 December 2010 live One of the protesters, Sue Luxton, a former Green Party councillor who had subsequently become a teacher, told the press that "I wanted to peacefully express my anger at the cuts... People were angry that they couldn't get in." Lewisham town hall protest broken up by riot police BBC News 30 November 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11870742 1 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101130043532/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11870742 30 November 2010 live Jeremy Burton, the Lewisham Borough Commander, later told press that "unfortunately due to the actions of a minority of people present a number of my officers were injured whilst carrying out their police duties", with 16 officers being treated for minor injuries. Arrests Made During Lewisham Protests 4RFV 30 November 2010 http://www.4rfv.co.uk/nationalnews.asp?id=119957 1 December 2010 Protests elsewhere On the day of the main demonstration, there were also further protests across the United Kingdom, including in Cardiff, Cambridge, Colchester, Newcastle, Bath, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Belfast, Brighton, York, Manchester, Plymouth, Scunthorpe and Bristol.Coughlan Sean Student tuition fee protest ends in standoff BBC News 1 December 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11877034 1 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101201044728/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11877034 1 December 2010 live About 1,500 students, including school children, took part in the protest in Brighton,http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8685073.Liveblog__1_500_students_join_Brighton_march_against_education_cuts/ Liveblog: 1,500 students join Brighton march against education cuts Brighton Argus 30 November 2010 30 November 2010 whilst protests in Bristol involved police being pelted with mustard and ten demonstrators were arrested. In Sheffield, police were pelted with snowballs as they guarded the constituency office of Nick Clegg from a crowd of two hundred protesters. The British protests coincided with those in Italy, where demonstrations occurred in Milan, Turin, Naples, Venice, Palermo, Bari, Genoa, and Rome where riot police were called in to prevent students from gaining access to the parliament building. Students protest in Italy, Britain CBC News 30 November 2010 https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/students-protest-in-italy-britain-1.948951 1 December 2010 Meanwhile, whilst occupations that had begun the previous week continued at University College London, Newcastle University and the University of Cambridge,http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Universities/Students-end-occupation-for-street-march.htm https://archive.today/20120723143318/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Universities/Students-end-occupation-for-street-march.htm dead 23 July 2012 Students end occupation for street march Raymond Brown Cambridge News 7 December 2010 9 December 2010 a new one began at the University of Nottingham, where 150 protesters occupied a building. University buildings and local government buildings were occupied in Birmingham and Oxford while police blocked an attempt at occupation of the council building in York.http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/98276 Students take fight back to the streets John Millington 17 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20101204121731/http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/98276 4 December 2010 dead dmy-all The protesters occupying the council chamber in Birmingham left after four hours, with a police spokesperson commending the protesters for their "wholly peaceful" behaviour, and noting that it "couldn't have been more different from the violent clashes seen recently in London". Police Arrest 153 at Student Protest in London NPR News 30 November 2010 https://www.npr.org/2010/11/30/131707525/police-arrest-153-at-student-protest-in-london 1 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101204051443/http://www.npr.org/2010/11/30/131707525/police-arrest-153-at-student-protest-in-london 4 December 2010 dead dmy-all Fees protesters leave Birmingham City Council Chamber BBC News 30 November 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-11880883 1 December 2010 9 December Parliament Square protest thumb|right|A banner displayed at a student protest in London on 9 December 2010 thumb|right|Protesters mount traffic lights in central London on 9 December 2010 On Thursday 9 December, the day of the scheduled vote on education reform in the Houses of Parliament, two separate protests were organised in central London; one led by the National Union of Students (NUS), the other jointly by the University of London Union (ULU) and the NCAFC, with an expected 40,000 people attending. Student protests – as they happened The Guardian London 9 December 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/education/blog/2010/dec/09/student-protests-live-coverage?INTCMP=SRCH 12 December 2010 Peter Walker Jonathan Paige ULU members handed out green hard hats with the words "Tax the banks, not the students" on them, whilst a rally was held in Bloomsbury at midday, where ULU President Solomon addressed the crowd. The Metropolitan Police had positioned lines of riot police and police vans along the Houses of Parliament, to prevent any protesters gaining access to it. Superintendent Julia Pendry issued a statement saying: "Protesters will be allowed sight and sound of parliament. However, there is evidence to suggest a number of people will come to London intent on causing violence and disorder. They are jumping on the bandwagon of these demonstrations with no intention to protest or interest in student tuition fees... those who are intent on committing crime will also be dealt with and they will suffer the consequences of their actions." The protesters marched from Bloomsbury to Parliament Square in the afternoon, where they pushed down metal barriers and occupied the Square. Around 3:30 pm, police kettled those several thousand protesters in the square, preventing them from leaving, stating that it was necessary "due to the level of violence that our officers are facing". Mounted police charged into the crowd on one side of the Square in an attempt to disperse them. A field hospital was set up on the green providing emergency first aid to protesters as well as tea and food within the containment area. Around 30 protesters were treated, most for head injuries.Townsend Mark Kettle tactics risk Hillsborough-style tragedy – doctor The Observer London 19 December 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/dec/19/police-kettle-risk-crush-hillsborough?INTCMP=SRCH 15 December 2010 Police used batons to hit protesters, and a St John Ambulance member told press that he had treated ten protesters for head injuries from being struck by police batons by 4.30 pm. One protester, philosophy student Alfie Meadows, suffered a blow to the head from a police truncheon that knocked him unconscious. Taken to hospital, it was discovered that he was suffering from bleeding of the brain, and required brain surgery. Police tried to bar injured student from hospital BBC News 12 December 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11978884 12 December 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101213044453/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11978884 13 December 2010 liveIn 2012, Meadows and four other men were charged with taking part in sustained and widespread violent disorder during the demonstration; in 2013, all were found not guilty.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/mar/27/student-head-injury-protest-denies-violence London The Guardian Robert Booth Student who suffered head injury at protest denies violent disorder 27 March 2012Student injured at tuition fees protest is cleared of violent disorder https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/mar/08/student-tuition-fees-cleared-disorder 8 March 2013 The Guardian 8 March 2013 nb Reporter Jonathan Haynes of The Guardian, who was present, characterised the police tactics as "very heavy handed". Police informed press that they were allowing young and vulnerable protesters to leave the kettle, but those inside the kettle, including journalists, asserted that this was untrue. At 5:41 pm, news reached the protesters that the government had voted to support the proposals. Clashes ensued between the crowd and the police, and the protesters pulled along metal fencing to separate themselves from riot police, who were trying to push them all into the centre of the Square. Later on in the evening, with the protesters still kettled in the Square, protesters smashed all of the windows on the ground floor of Her Majesty's Treasury.Sharp Heather Protesters mount their last stand as fees vote nears BBC News 9 December 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11959950 12 December 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101210050236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11959950 10 December 2010 live At 21:15, the protest was forced onto Westminster Bridge where it was kettled until approximately 23:30.February 2014 Protests elsewhere in central London thumb|right|Peaceful occupation of the Jeremy Bentham room at University College London thumb|right|200px|A British Transport Police officer deployed in riot gear on 9 December 2010 Due to the Parliament Square protest being kettled, many other demonstrators could not enter the Square and so disseminated across much of the rest of central London. Some were separately kettled around The Cenotaph, where Charlie Gilmour, the adopted son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and a student at Girton College, Cambridge, was pictured swinging from a Union Flag on the memorial; he later apologised, claiming that he "did not realise" it was the Cenotaph. Pink Floyd star David Gilmour's son climbed Cenotaph BBC News 10 December 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11972814 12 December 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101216072927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11972814 16 December 2010 live Meanwhile, many of those students who remained around the area of Trafalgar Square continued to protest, with about 150 holding a sit-in in the adjacent National Gallery, while others attempted to set fire to the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree. Royal car attacked in protest after MPs' fee rise vote BBC News 10 December 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11954333 12 December 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101210045010/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11954333 10 December 2010 live During the protests, a car taking The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to the evening's Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium was attacked on Regent Streethttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11954333 Royal car attacked in protest after MPs' fee vote BBC 10 December 2010 10 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101210045010/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11954333 10 December 2010 live and Home Secretary Theresa May confirmed a protester 'made contact' with Camilla.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11978954 Fees protester made 'contact' with Camilla says May BBC 12 December 2010 13 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101213044418/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11978954 13 December 2010 live In Oxford Street, Topshop was damaged, as rioters sprayed "pay your tax" on the building and broke windows.http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23905622-student-protest-mob-attacks-charles-and-camilla-on-fees-riot.do Rioting students attack Charles and Camilla's car in tuition fees protest Evening Standard London 13 December 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101213031326/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23905622-student-protest-mob-attacks-charles-and-camilla-on-fees-riot.do 13 December 2010 dmy-all Response Home Secretary Theresa May issued a statement in which she "utterly condemned" the actions of the protesters, and declared that "What we are seeing in London tonight, the wanton vandalism, smashing of windows, has nothing to do with peaceful protest... Attacks on police officers and property show that some of the protesters have no respect for London or its citizens." Nearly 50 people complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) about police behaviour during the various protests held around the country, with the majority directed against the Metropolitan Police, including complaints of violence used against protesters.Sawer Patrick https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8196630/Police-dragged-me-from-wheelchair-twice-during-protests-says-demonstrator.html Police dragged me from wheelchair twice during protests, says demonstrator The Telegraph 12 December 2010 23 December 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101213073003/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8196630/Police-dragged-me-from-wheelchair-twice-during-protests-says-demonstrator.html 13 December 2010 live Jody McIntyre Following the protests, video footage posted on YouTube showed Jody McIntyre, a protester with cerebral palsy, involved in an altercation with police. The footage showed McIntyre, who had positioned himself in the front line facing police, being pulled out of his wheelchair and dragged across the ground by Metropolitan Police officers.Student Protests: Police May Consider Water Cannon As New Footage Emerges of Cops Dragging Protester Pete Norman http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Student-Protests-Police-May-Consider-Water-Cannon-As-New-Footage-Emerges-Of-Cops-Dragging-Protester/Article/201012215853147?chooseNews=Business Sky News 13 December 2010 16 December 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101218202850/http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Student-Protests-Police-May-Consider-Water-Cannon-As-New-Footage-Emerges-Of-Cops-Dragging-Protester/Article/201012215853147?chooseNews=Business 18 December 2010 dmy-all While McIntyre later said he had been pulled out of the wheelchair twice, only one incident is shown in the video. On 13 December, he was interviewed about the incident by BBC journalist Ben Brown, an interview later described by The Guardian newspaper as "having a distinct lack of sympathy from the BBC" and it was noted that the incident had "attracted thousands of complaints". Jody McIntyre: 'Why is it so surprising that the police dragged me from my wheelchair?' Kira Cochrane https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/dec/15/jody-mcintyre-protester-dragged-from-wheelchair The Guardian 15 December 2010 16 December 2010 London https://web.archive.org/web/20101216162151/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/15/jody-mcintyre-protester-dragged-from-wheelchair 16 December 2010 live McIntyre's complaint was later rejected by Scotland Yard. Laville Sandra Disabled student insists Met police treated him brutally https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/may/27/disabled-student-claims-police-brutality The Guardian London 27 May 2011 13 August 2011 His subsequent appeal was partly upheld by the IPCC.http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/Pages/pr_240811_mcintyreappeal.aspx IPCC partially upholds appeal by Jody McIntyre Independent Police Complaints Commission Ipcc.gov.uk 24 August 2011 4 September 2013 Street medics treated student protesters during the parliament square protest on Thursday 9 December, the day of the scheduled vote to raise university tuition fees. A field tent was set up on the green providing emergency first aid to protesters as well as tea and food within the containment area. Around 30 protesters were treated, most for head injuries. Outcome Alfie Meadows was acquitted of all charges in 2013.Alfie Meadows: Metropolitan Police issue significant compensation and formal apology for serious injuries sustained by university student at Parliament Square tuition fees protest https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/alfie-meadows-metropolitan-police-issue-significant-compensation-and-formal-apology-serious Doughty Street Chambers 15 September 2023 17 September 2023 In September 2023 the Metropolitan Police apologised to him and agreed a financial settlement.Alfie Meadows: Met agrees payout for man injured at 2010 protest BBC News 15 September 2023 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66827856 17 September 2023 Influence On 30 November, following the third main day of protesting, the Welsh Assembly announced that it would not permit an increase in fees for Welsh students. A reporter from the BBC noted that this meant that if the plans went through in England, "it would mean that an English student at a university in England could pay more than £17,000 more for a three-year degree than a Welsh student on the same course." A writer in British newspaper The Guardian, writing several hours before the government vote on the topic, noted that "It seems likely the tuition fees bill will pass but I'd still argue that – whatever your view on the merits of the new fees system – the protests have been a success at least in calling politicians to account for broken pledges, something you see rarely theses [sic] days." In July 2011, three school children will challenge the kettling of children at the 24 November 2010 protest. They will seek a Judicial Review in the High Court, arguing in particular that children had a right to protest and that their safety was jeopardised, breaking the laws of the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children Act 2004,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13679665 Kettling of children at tuition fees protest challenged BBC London 7 June 2011 10 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110607112625/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13679665 7 June 2011 liveJune 2025 In September 2011, students in Northern Ireland succeeded in getting the Northern Ireland Assembly to freeze tuition fees, avoiding the large fee increases in England.2011-09-08 Northern Ireland university tuition fees frozen en-GB BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-14843377 2021-11-11 Student leaders in Northern Ireland cited the wider protests across the UK as one reason for their success.'It Felt Beautiful and Precious': Reflections on the Student Movement 10 Years On https://novaramedia.com/2020/12/09/it-felt-beautiful-and-precious-reflections-on-the-student-movement-10-years-on/ 2021-11-11 Novara Media en As of 2020, this has saved Northern Ireland university students £1 billion in tuition fees compared to English students.Northern Ireland students saved £1bn thanks to tuition fees campaign en-GB belfasttelegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-students-saved-1bn-thanks-to-tuition-fees-campaign-39694383.html 2021-11-11 0307-1235 In November 2012, two years after the 2010 demonstrations, protests ignited again from the student movement. Organised by the NUS, around 10,000 demonstrators marched in central London.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20412792 Students march in London protest 21 November 2012 BBC News After a five-day trial in the High Court in June 2012, 27-year-old assistant tutor Luke Cooper, reported to be completing a PhD in international relations at the University of Sussex, was awarded £35,000 over a front page Evening Standard article and £25,000 over a follow-up piece in the Daily Mail that implied he was the "ringleader" of the protesters who invaded the Conservative Party's headquarters. Cooper complained that the allegations were untrue, threatened his future academic prospects and left his reputation "as badly trashed" as the Millbank Tower.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/feedarticle/10302854 Tutor wins damages after cuts march The Guardian London 23 June 2012 23 June 2012 The years following the student protests saw a leftward shift in the politics of the NUS. In 2014 the NUS Conference voted in support of free education, reversing the union's previous policy of advocating a graduate tax as a replacement for tuition fees, which it had adopted in the late 2000s. The Student Broad Left made progressive gains in the mid-2010s, culminating in the election of SBL candidate Malia Bouattia as NUS President. Participants in the protests went on to be involved in a number of left-wing causes, such as the trade union movement, the climate movement, Palestinian and Kurdish solidarity, alternative media (such as Aaron Bastani, co-founder of Novara Media), migrant and refugee solidarity campaigns, and Momentum and the Labour Party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn (such as James Schneider, who served as Corbyn's head of strategic communications).https://www.plutobooks.com/blog/2010-uk-student-movement-research-project/ 2010 and the UK Student Movement Research Project Hudson Carlus Pluto Books 17 October 2017 17 November 2020https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/11/the-millbank-revolt-10-years-on The Millbank Revolt, 10 Years On Myers Matt 10 November 2020 Tribune 17 November 2020https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/01/student-revolt-austerity-uk-corbyn-momentum The Corbyn Generation Earle Samuel 19 January 2018 Jacobin 17 November 2020 See also United Kingdom Education Funding Our Future Crisis situations and unrest in Europe since 2000 List of riots in London Sukey 2011–2013 Chilean student protests 2014 Hong Kong protests Notes "nb" References External links London Is Burning: 2010 Protests https://web.archive.org/web/20101216190354/http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/53341/london-is-burning-2010-protests 16 December 2010 – slideshow by Life magazine'' "The Battle of Parliament Square" – Documentary on the demonstration on the ninth of December and its aftermath. Category:2010 in London Category:2010 protests Category:2010 riots Category:2010s political riots Category:2010s in the City of Westminster Category:21st-century riots in London Category:November 2010 in the United Kingdom Category:December 2010 in the United Kingdom Category:Anarchism in England Category:Austerity in the United Kingdom Category:Higher education in the United Kingdom Category:Protest marches in the United Kingdom Category:Student protests in London Category:Political riots in the United Kingdom Category:Student riots Category:Police misconduct in the United Kingdom Category:History of the Conservative Party (UK) Category:History of the Liberal Democrats (UK) Category:National Union of Students (United Kingdom)