“What do we want? Free education. When do we want it? Now!”
Apologies for quality of the phone snap but no apologies for the banner's content. A strong message was shouted out by university students in Manchester on Wednesday protesting at having to suffer for four years, since the outrageous charge of £9,000 per year tuition fees was introduced. Since the Tory and so-called “Liberal Democrat” government entered power in 2010, they have ripped the heart out of society, preying on anyone who is vulnerable or disadvantaged.
Free university education used to be a basic right in the UK, funded by the taxpayers. Taxes remain the same and yet students are charged. Students used to receive grants, then they were abolished. They have to take out loans to get them through their education. So with say £6K a year loans and £9K a year tuition fees a tree year degree can lead to a student being £45K in debt when they start their first job. Don't tell me that this (Dis)United Kingdom is at all civilised or fair...
Nick Clegg MP famously reneged on his promise to oppose tuition fees once he became Deputy PM; as a result he could well be voted out of his Sheffield constituency by the large student population next May.
The Green Party seem to be the only mainstream party to oppose these tuition fees. Labour would merely reduce then to £6000. Oh that we lived in a true democratic system (not a first past the post voting system) like Finland and Sweden where the Green Party is part of their coalition governments.
We have a Tory party in charge of the country here with many of the "screw society in favour of right wing ideology" mindset.
ReplyDeletePeople there have a good deal of right to be angry.
A lot of turmoil relating to this where I live also.
ReplyDeleteYou should not have to incur crushing debts to get an education.
This is a familiar story Chrissy, exactly the same is happening here in Oz.. It amazes me how politicians brazenly stand and promise all sorts of things pre election only to turn the tables once elected.. It's beginning to feel like the 'honest pollly' is an urban legend!
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