London, The UK’s coalition government narrowly won a vote on raising the cap on tuition fees despite large-scale protests outside Parliament and the resignation of three ministerial aides over the issue.

In the first major parliamentary test since Prime Minister David Cameron’s government took office in May, the vote on tripling the cap on fees to GBP9,000 passed by 323 to 302. The legislation will now move to the upper House of Lords.

The majority of 21 is much less than the government’s normal majority of 84 lawmakers. The narrow margin of the government’s win may raise doubts about the coalition’s ability to stay the course over the next 4 1/2 years at a time of deep austerity to pare back the U.K.’s huge budget deficit.

As expected, the Liberal Democrats split three ways on the vote. Among Liberal Democrat lawmakers, 27 voted in favor, 21 voted against and eight abstained, including two who were abroad. Seventeen of those supporting the bill were ministers, while those who voted against included former leaders Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell and party President Tim Farron.

Lee Scott, a Conservative ministerial aide to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, stepped down after abstaining. Former leadership candidate David Davis was among six Conservatives who opposed the bill. Shortly before the vote Thursday, Mike Crockart, lawmaker for Edinburgh West, resigned from his unpaid position as ministerial aide over the fees proposal. Another of the party’s ministerial aides, Jenny Willott, also voted against and stepped down. May’s coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats allowed members of the Liberal Democrats to abstain on an increase in fees.

Under the government’s plans, which affect only English universities, the cap on tuition fees will rise to GBP9,000 for top universities from around GBP3,300. However upfront fees for full-time and many part-time students will be scrapped and graduates will start repaying the debt only after they earn more than GBP21,000 a year.

Outside Parliament, as police helicopters buzzed overhead, tens of thousands of students gathered to protest the cap increase in a demonstration that turned violent.

There were ten arrests and nine police officers were hurt, including six taken to the hospital, the Metropolitan Police said. There were 22 protester injured. Police accused protesters of throwing bottles and flares at them.

Thursday’s protests are the latest in a string of occasionally violent demonstrations across the country in recent weeks.

The protests started out peacefully but turned tense after students tore down barricades in Parliament Square in the center of London. Students used the orange and white barriers to create their own containment wall against the police. At one point, riot police were deployed to prevent protesters breaking into Parliament.

Meanwhile, a series of small fires in Parliament Square turned into a large bonfire as students started burning signs and banners. University student protesters were joined by high school students outside parliament and it is the latter who will be affected by the increase in fees. Tom Brommage, 16, said higher fees would discourage people like him from taking up higher education. “If this goes ahead it will definitely put me off going to university,” he said.

Commentators said the vote was the biggest challenge faced by the coalition during its seven months in office and the clashes could herald further unrest as austerity measures bite. “I’m a public sector worker and I think it’s about more than just tuition fees; it’s about showing people are angry with the way the government are going about reducing the deficit,” said Henry Trew, one of the protesters.

Some protesters accused the police of being heavy handed. “The police have been antagonistic in their approach to the demo. Everyone knows that if you compress a group of people they get nervous and a lot of people are frightened,” said Elizia Volkmann, 39, an artist from London.

Dragged to safety: A police officer is helped by a medic during the protests Smoke: Riot police deal with a hail of flares thrown by protesters

Criminal damage: A protester throws a brick at the window of the Treasury building  Entry: Demonstrators went through the doors of the HM Treasury building after breaking in

 

About The Author:

Ilmkidunya is one of the biggest educational websites working for the past 18 years to keep the people updated regarding the latest educational news about admission, universities, results, date sheets, and scholarships.


Share your comments questions here
Sort By:
X

Sign in

to continue to ilmkidunya.com

inquiry-image

Free Admission Advice

Fill the form. Our admission consultants will call you with admission options.