Protestors kettled as MPs vote to raise tuition fees to £9000

Thousands of anti-cuts protestors marched on Parliament again today only to hear at around 5.45 pm that MPs had voted in favour of increasing tuition fees to a possible £9,000 a year.

With violent clashes between police and protestors likely to continue well into the night, hundreds of protestors remain in a kettle on Parliament Square. Mounted police have been attempting to charge the crowds throughout the afternoon and evening but so far the protestors have resisted. Both police and civilians have complained of violence against one other.

Over 200 students from the University of Leeds went down to London to take part in the protests with 30 of these visiting the House of Commons at 12 pm to lobby Members of Parliament before the vote.Despite high hopes on the parts of the lobbyists that enough MPs could be turned at the last minute to bring down the vote, in the end the government won by a 21 majority.

More information, including eyewitness accounts of the day’s events to follow…