At midday today, thousands of current and former students marched through London, chanting 'shame on you,' in protest against rising university fees and the scrapping of maintenance grants for lower-income students.
The demonstration was organised by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, who say that students are being 'attacked from all sides' thanks to the Government’s continuing agenda of education spending cuts and restrictions on visas for international students. Protesters were, understandably, quite rude about David Cameron and the current Tory government, chanting 'Old McDonald' as they marched, focusing mainly on the verse about pigs. That song It's Bigger Than Hip Hop by Dead Prez, blared out on speakers as students chanted, waved placards and let off pink and green smoke.
Organisers say that since the elections in May, in which Labour candidate Ed Milliband was absolutely wiped out by the Conservatives, there has been a massive spike in interest in the march and a rise in student activism. New Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell have both given their public backing to the march.
This morning, Mr McDonnell addressed a rally outside the University of London, urging students 'do not let Tories destroy your futures.'
He said: 'Education is a gift from one generation to another, not a commodity to be bought and sold. This government is betraying you and future generations and I’m here in solidarity for education. Let me say this: your voice needs to be heard.'
We went along to the protest as it made its way past Downing Street and on to Millbank - the Tory HQ - and then the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (responsible for university education).
We spoke to some of the protestors to find out why they stand for free education:
Yasmin, 21, first year Politics student at London Metropolitan University
'It’s ridiculous that we have to pay for education, I mean why should it just be for the privileged few? All of the politicians in government now didn’t have to pay for their student fees but we do? I shouldn't have the burden of £51,000 of loans at the end of my course.
I’m from Grimsby and to be honest if it wasn’t for the grant, I wouldn’t have been able to come to London study. I’m struggling as it is, but the grant is helping me scrape by. I couldn’t imagine what would happen to people struggling if it wasn’t about. They’re on about cutting the grant fees, but I don’t know how many people are going to manage.'
** Lea, 23 (on the left), postgraduate in Transcultural Mental Healthcare, Queen Mary University**
'I'm here today because the fees are ridiculously extortionate and education needs to be freely available. I don’t even want to think about how much debt I’m in from my undergraduate course, and I’m studying part time now so I can work and pay off my undergraduate degree monthly.'
'I’m studying transcultural mental healthcare, something people really need to be educated about, but costs are putting people off. I think today’s about reinforcing the message and about having a dialogue with people in authority so that something can change. I heard Jeremy Corbyn is supporting the demo, so I hope he’s got our backs on that!'
Jess Craft, 18, (on the left) first year English student at Sussex University
'I don’t believe education should be limited to those that are financially stable everyone should have a right to an education. Education should be provided for by the government. I think the cuts are directly affecting my generation it’s simply destroying what support we have especially for the generation below us who feel like they’re not in a stable situation because of the cuts.'
Jenny, 21, Politics student at Sussex University
'Ideally I would love to see free education for everyone as a result of this march but to be honest I don’t think it’s going to happen – David Cameron is a bit of a dick. as unfair to discriminate against lower income students and that free education should be a right for all etc etc.'
And then there was this guy...
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Follow Charley on Twitter @charrrkey
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.