Something between 500 and 1,000 students of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and their teaching staff came to lobby their MPs today (Wednesday 28th February 2007) in protest at the proposed cuts to free provision of ESOL announced in October and due to take effect in September.

There were students and teaching staff from all over London, and coaches continued to arrive from as far afield as Huddersfield and Sheffield throughout the day. The queue of students waiting to clear security to lobby their MPs quickly overwhelmed the security staff at the Houses of Parliament - this despite 'fast tracking' ESOL lobbyists in the queue. The Central Lobby and the Committee Room booked for the event were quickly filled to capacity, and many lobbyists had to go to a nearby overflow meeting at the Emmanuel Church in Marsham Street, where speakers from the lobby meeting in Parliament came to speak as well. The lobby started at 11am, but at 3pm, ESOL students were still waiting in the rain to get in to see their MPs, with more students still arriving at Westminster. Veteran trade union organisers said they had never seen a lobby this size in 25 years. The lobby moved to the overflow venue when the queue hit 500, but stewards estimate a total of 1,000 came through in total.

Many students had written to or emailed their MPs for the first time in lessons earlier in the week. Lambeth College ESOL students began the day with a march through Brixton on their way to Parliament. Tower Hamlets College arrived at Parliament with a noise demonstration that blocked traffic, and carried colourful banners including "Make ESOL not War" and "Rammell=Unsustainable", a reference to the Minister for Lifelong Learning Bill Rammell who announced the cuts to free ESOL provision in October. Rammell, who faced a 45-minute grilling by MPs, trade unionists and students in the lobby meeting today, announced he would make an announcement on some concession in the next few weeks.

The government plans to start charging 33 per cent of fees to ESOL students who are not on benefits or working tax credit. Asylum seekers over 19 will lose their right to free ESOL classes. Barry Lovejoy of teachers'' union UCU said "Part of the confusion today this morning is because we're so succesful in getting people out." Charles, a Level 2 ESOL student from Huddersfield Technical College, asked how "people are to acheive integration if they cannot speak English." Many teachers at the rally said they had the full support of their College Principals and senior managment. Acton College closed classes to bring students to the lobby.