UK students march after tuition hikes, americans do nothing
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Students rioting at house of parliament right now!
Students, police clash as UK approves tuition hike
A student protests in Parliament Square in central London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
A student protests in Parliament Square in central London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
Two demonstrators jump from the top of a bonfire in Parliament Square, as students demonstrate in Westminster, London, against planned tuition fee increases Thursday Dec. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
Two demonstrators jump from the top of a bonfire in Parliament Square, as students demonstrate in Westminster, London, against planned tuition fee increases Thursday Dec. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (Dominic Lipinski - AP)
Students march through Birmingham, England in protest at the increase in student fees Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010. Students are furious over the coalition government's decision to allow schools to triple the cap imposed on tuition fees, allowing the best universities to charge up to 9,000 pounds ($14,000) per year in a bid to reduce the burden on Britain's debt-laden public sector. British students currently pay up to 3,000 pounds ($4,675). (AP Photo/David Jones/PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
Students march through Birmingham, England in protest at the increase in student fees Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010. Students are furious over the coalition government's decision to allow schools to triple the cap imposed on tuition fees, allowing the best universities to charge up to 9,000 pounds ($14,000) per year in a bid to reduce the burden on Britain's debt-laden public sector. British students currently pay up to 3,000 pounds ($4,675). (AP Photo/David Jones/PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (David Jones - AP)
Thousands of students march through the streets of central London to the Houses of Parliament in a protest against increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. A heavy police presence held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Thousands of students march through the streets of central London to the Houses of Parliament in a protest against increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. A heavy police presence held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Sang Tan - AP)
British students try to remove barriers set up by British police officers, left, during scuffles following a protest march in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
British students try to remove barriers set up by British police officers, left, during scuffles following a protest march in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
British students protest in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
British students protest in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
Standing on the plinth of a statue of wartime leader Winston Churchill, British students protest in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Thousands of students held demonstrations and sit-ins throughout the country, heaping pressure on the government to reverse course. Students marched through central London, banging drums, waving placards and chanting "education is not for sale," as weeks of nationwide protests reached a crescendo.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Standing on the plinth of a statue of wartime leader Winston Churchill, British students protest in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Thousands of students held demonstrations and sit-ins throughout the country, heaping pressure on the government to reverse course. Students marched through central London, banging drums, waving placards and chanting "education is not for sale," as weeks of nationwide protests reached a crescendo.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
A police rider on the floor after he was pulled off his horse by protestors in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
A police rider on the floor after he was pulled off his horse by protestors in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant - AP)
A fire burns in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, as students demonstrate against planned tuition fee increases Thursday Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields and batons pushed angry student protesters away from London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Gareth Fuller/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
A fire burns in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, as students demonstrate against planned tuition fee increases Thursday Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields and batons pushed angry student protesters away from London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Gareth Fuller/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (Gareth Fuller - AP)
British police medics carry an injured protester away, as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London Thursday Dec. 9, 2010, during a protest against an increase in university tuition fees(AP Photo/Sang Tan)
British police medics carry an injured protester away, as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London Thursday Dec. 9, 2010, during a protest against an increase in university tuition fees(AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Sang Tan - AP)
A mounted police officer pushes protesters back during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A mounted police officer pushes protesters back during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (Matt Dunham - AP)
Protesters and police officers on horseback clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Protesters and police officers on horseback clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (Matt Dunham - AP)
Police officers carry an injured officer during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Police officers carry an injured officer during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)
Protesters and police officers clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Protesters and police officers clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)
Protesters and police officers clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Protesters and police officers clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)
A protester throws a stone at a Treasury's window as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London in a protest against the increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. British lawmakers on Thursday approved a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees with a narrow margin after some government legislators rebelled amid violent protests outside Parliament. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
A protester throws a stone at a Treasury's window as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London in a protest against the increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. British lawmakers on Thursday approved a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees with a narrow margin after some government legislators rebelled amid violent protests outside Parliament. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Sang Tan - AP)
Protesters cry out as they stand on the statue of Winston Churchill at Parliament Square in London, as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in a protest against an increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The House of Commons is to vote Thursday to increase tuition fees. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Protesters cry out as they stand on the statue of Winston Churchill at Parliament Square in London, as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in a protest against an increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The House of Commons is to vote Thursday to increase tuition fees. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Sang Tan - AP)
A police officer detain a youth during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
A police officer detain a youth during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)
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By GILLIAN SMITH and CASSANDRA VINOGRAD
The Associated Press
Thursday, December 9, 2010; 1:56 PM
LONDON -- British lawmakers on Thursday approved a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees by a narrow margin after some government legislators rebelled amid violent protests outside Parliament.
The plan to raise the cap on tuition fees to 9,000 pounds ($14,000) was approved, 323-302 in the House of Commons, a close vote given the government's 84-seat majority.
The tuition vote posed a crucial test for governing Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, and for the government's austerity plans to reduce Britain's budget deficit.
Outside Parliament, police with riot shields and batons tussled with angry student protesters, keeping them away from the building.
Many in the thousands-strong crowd booed and chanted "shame" when they heard the result of the vote, and pressed against metal barriers and lines of riot police penning them in.
There was a standoff as the Metropolitan Police force said the "extreme violence currently being directed towards officers" was making it hard to let demonstrators disperse.
Earlier small groups of protesters threw flares, billiard balls and paint bombs, and officers, some on horses, rushed to reinforce the security cordon. Police said 13 protesters and eight officers were injured, while seven people were arrested.
The scuffles broke out after students marched through central London and converged on Parliament Square, waving placards and chanting "education is not for sale" to cap weeks of nationwide protests aimed at pressuring lawmakers to reverse course.
The vote put Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrat party in an awkward spot. Liberal Democrats signed a pre-election pledge to oppose any such tuition hike, and reserved the right to abstain in the vote even though they are part of the governing coalition proposing the change.
Those protesting in central London were particularly incensed by the broken pledge from Clegg's party.
"I'm here because the Liberal Democrats broke their promise," said 19-year-old Kings College student Shivan David from London's Trafalgar Square. "I don't think education should be free but I do think that tripling fees doesn't make any sense. We are paying more for less."
Inside the House of Commons and to the jeers from the opposition lawmakers, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable insisted that the new tuition plans were "progressive" as a heated debate over the proposal began.
Students, police clash as UK approves tuition hike
A student protests in Parliament Square in central London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
A student protests in Parliament Square in central London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
Two demonstrators jump from the top of a bonfire in Parliament Square, as students demonstrate in Westminster, London, against planned tuition fee increases Thursday Dec. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
Two demonstrators jump from the top of a bonfire in Parliament Square, as students demonstrate in Westminster, London, against planned tuition fee increases Thursday Dec. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (Dominic Lipinski - AP)
Students march through Birmingham, England in protest at the increase in student fees Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010. Students are furious over the coalition government's decision to allow schools to triple the cap imposed on tuition fees, allowing the best universities to charge up to 9,000 pounds ($14,000) per year in a bid to reduce the burden on Britain's debt-laden public sector. British students currently pay up to 3,000 pounds ($4,675). (AP Photo/David Jones/PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
Students march through Birmingham, England in protest at the increase in student fees Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010. Students are furious over the coalition government's decision to allow schools to triple the cap imposed on tuition fees, allowing the best universities to charge up to 9,000 pounds ($14,000) per year in a bid to reduce the burden on Britain's debt-laden public sector. British students currently pay up to 3,000 pounds ($4,675). (AP Photo/David Jones/PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (David Jones - AP)
Thousands of students march through the streets of central London to the Houses of Parliament in a protest against increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. A heavy police presence held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Thousands of students march through the streets of central London to the Houses of Parliament in a protest against increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. A heavy police presence held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Sang Tan - AP)
British students try to remove barriers set up by British police officers, left, during scuffles following a protest march in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
British students try to remove barriers set up by British police officers, left, during scuffles following a protest march in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
British students protest in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
British students protest in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields held off angry student protesters marching to London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
Standing on the plinth of a statue of wartime leader Winston Churchill, British students protest in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Thousands of students held demonstrations and sit-ins throughout the country, heaping pressure on the government to reverse course. Students marched through central London, banging drums, waving placards and chanting "education is not for sale," as weeks of nationwide protests reached a crescendo.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Standing on the plinth of a statue of wartime leader Winston Churchill, British students protest in central London against government plans to triple tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Thousands of students held demonstrations and sit-ins throughout the country, heaping pressure on the government to reverse course. Students marched through central London, banging drums, waving placards and chanting "education is not for sale," as weeks of nationwide protests reached a crescendo.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
A police rider on the floor after he was pulled off his horse by protestors in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
A police rider on the floor after he was pulled off his horse by protestors in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant - AP)
A fire burns in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, as students demonstrate against planned tuition fee increases Thursday Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields and batons pushed angry student protesters away from London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Gareth Fuller/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
A fire burns in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, as students demonstrate against planned tuition fee increases Thursday Dec. 9, 2010. Police with riot shields and batons pushed angry student protesters away from London's Parliament Square on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Gareth Fuller/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (Gareth Fuller - AP)
British police medics carry an injured protester away, as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London Thursday Dec. 9, 2010, during a protest against an increase in university tuition fees(AP Photo/Sang Tan)
British police medics carry an injured protester away, as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London Thursday Dec. 9, 2010, during a protest against an increase in university tuition fees(AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Sang Tan - AP)
A mounted police officer pushes protesters back during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A mounted police officer pushes protesters back during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (Matt Dunham - AP)
Protesters and police officers on horseback clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Protesters and police officers on horseback clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (Matt Dunham - AP)
Police officers carry an injured officer during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Police officers carry an injured officer during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)
Protesters and police officers clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Protesters and police officers clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)
Protesters and police officers clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
Protesters and police officers clash during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)
A protester throws a stone at a Treasury's window as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London in a protest against the increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. British lawmakers on Thursday approved a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees with a narrow margin after some government legislators rebelled amid violent protests outside Parliament. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
A protester throws a stone at a Treasury's window as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London in a protest against the increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. British lawmakers on Thursday approved a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees with a narrow margin after some government legislators rebelled amid violent protests outside Parliament. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Sang Tan - AP)
Protesters cry out as they stand on the statue of Winston Churchill at Parliament Square in London, as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in a protest against an increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The House of Commons is to vote Thursday to increase tuition fees. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Protesters cry out as they stand on the statue of Winston Churchill at Parliament Square in London, as thousands of students demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in a protest against an increase in tuition fees, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. The House of Commons is to vote Thursday to increase tuition fees. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (Sang Tan - AP)
A police officer detain a youth during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
A police officer detain a youth during a protest against an increase in tuition fees on the edge of Parliament Square in London, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. Police clashed with protesters marching to London's Parliament Square as lawmakers debated a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees in England.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Karel Prinsloo - AP)
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By GILLIAN SMITH and CASSANDRA VINOGRAD
The Associated Press
Thursday, December 9, 2010; 1:56 PM
LONDON -- British lawmakers on Thursday approved a controversial plan to triple university tuition fees by a narrow margin after some government legislators rebelled amid violent protests outside Parliament.
The plan to raise the cap on tuition fees to 9,000 pounds ($14,000) was approved, 323-302 in the House of Commons, a close vote given the government's 84-seat majority.
The tuition vote posed a crucial test for governing Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, and for the government's austerity plans to reduce Britain's budget deficit.
Outside Parliament, police with riot shields and batons tussled with angry student protesters, keeping them away from the building.
Many in the thousands-strong crowd booed and chanted "shame" when they heard the result of the vote, and pressed against metal barriers and lines of riot police penning them in.
There was a standoff as the Metropolitan Police force said the "extreme violence currently being directed towards officers" was making it hard to let demonstrators disperse.
Earlier small groups of protesters threw flares, billiard balls and paint bombs, and officers, some on horses, rushed to reinforce the security cordon. Police said 13 protesters and eight officers were injured, while seven people were arrested.
The scuffles broke out after students marched through central London and converged on Parliament Square, waving placards and chanting "education is not for sale" to cap weeks of nationwide protests aimed at pressuring lawmakers to reverse course.
The vote put Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrat party in an awkward spot. Liberal Democrats signed a pre-election pledge to oppose any such tuition hike, and reserved the right to abstain in the vote even though they are part of the governing coalition proposing the change.
Those protesting in central London were particularly incensed by the broken pledge from Clegg's party.
"I'm here because the Liberal Democrats broke their promise," said 19-year-old Kings College student Shivan David from London's Trafalgar Square. "I don't think education should be free but I do think that tripling fees doesn't make any sense. We are paying more for less."
Inside the House of Commons and to the jeers from the opposition lawmakers, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable insisted that the new tuition plans were "progressive" as a heated debate over the proposal began.
lmao @ "make the rich pay"
The rich can pay, therefore they should. :dead:
I wonder if those protesting would supports continue to support that logic in different circumstances, or only when it is something they want.
On another note; the university system is fucked all over the world. People should really be protesting where tuition money is going; the source of the problem.
Tuition money being wasted = higher tuition.
The rich can pay, therefore they should. :dead:
I wonder if those protesting would supports continue to support that logic in different circumstances, or only when it is something they want.
On another note; the university system is fucked all over the world. People should really be protesting where tuition money is going; the source of the problem.
Tuition money being wasted = higher tuition.
Mr. Nice Guy, I suppose there is no such thing is free education anywhere in the world, which has never existed in the history of Earth, not to mention reasonable tuitions, etc. But it's cool, maybe more tax cuts for the rich will solve their problems.
Anyways, it's a much bigger picture than just tuition fees. Real change almost always starts with the youth, whether it's a shooting at a protest or whatever, it's always the youth movement that ignites change.
Anyways, it's a much bigger picture than just tuition fees. Real change almost always starts with the youth, whether it's a shooting at a protest or whatever, it's always the youth movement that ignites change.