UK Public sector cuts Newswire Archive
Super rabble rousing Book Block demo, Rome Nov 30th
01-12-2010 15:11
The amazing symbolic and practical Book Block returns to the streets of Roma and comes up against a blockage - a line of police vans. What to do?Full article | 2 additions | 4 comments
Met Police begin profiling student protests
01-12-2010 12:29
Yesterday’s student demonstration in London ended in a mass arrest of 144 people, being described by protesters and legal groups as an exercise in information gathering by Metropolitan Police.
After being surrounded by moving ‘kettles’ throughout the day, Police forced protesters back to Trafalgar square where at 6.20pm a Kettle was formed around the remaining people followed by their mass arrest for breach of the peace.
Ashley, who was inside the demo last night, said “The police took me from the kettle with another person to be searched and questioned in front of cameras. They told us that if we gave our details we would be released but after giving my name, address and date of birth I was arrested.”
Students Defy Police to Take Streets
01-12-2010 12:25
Thousands of students and austerity cuts protestors took to the streets of London on DayX2 in another national day of action [uk reports]. Refusing to be stopped by hundreds of police officers [1,2] they took their protest mobile, marching miles across the capital city chanting slogans, chased by a police force playing catch up [report + pics]. Later having returned to Trafalgar Square clashes saw one woman knocked unconscious. Mass arrests followed with around 140 people arrested for breach of the peace in an apparent new policing tactic [report + pics].
SEE: Full Account, Pics + Upcoming Demos | Timeline | Tumblewire | Videos [1,2,3,4,5,6] Kings Occupied | Slade Occupied | Cuts Wire | Legal Support 07946541511
Second Lecture - University For Strategic Optimism
Merseyside United Againts the Cuts March and Rally – Saturday 11th December
01-12-2010 11:19
TIME TO BRING ALL MERSEYSIDE OPPOSITION TO THE TORY CUTS TOGETHER - STUDENTS, WORKERS, SERVICE USERSBoots branch occupied in search for missing 86 million quid
01-12-2010 11:15
Film: DAY X2 - Birmingham youth and students take to the streets..
01-12-2010 03:27
Web Link to Video
Sheffield students protest against tuition fee rises - Photos
01-12-2010 02:52
http://sheffieldoccupation.tumblr.com/
Tremough Occupation
01-12-2010 02:03
Students occupy the Stannary at the Tremough campus where University College Falmouth and Exeter are based.UK Cuts Revolt 2010 - What's Next
01-12-2010 00:46
SINCE OCTOBERS SPENDING REVIEW SET OUT THE IMPENDINGS THERE HAS BEEN WAVE AFTER WAVE OF PROTEST TO THE CON-DEM CUTS AGENDA.STUDENT PROTESTS, UK UNCUT TAX DODGER SHUTDOWNS, AND MOST RECENTLY A RESIDENTS + WORKERS REVOLT ON MONDAY THAT SHOOK LEWISHAM TOWN HALL AND COULD HAVE PREVENTED £80M OF BUDGET CUTS BEING PASSED.
SUMMARY OF INFOMATION ON WHAT'S COMING IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE BELOW. FULL DETAILS AT
http://anticuts.org.uk/
Students get the upper hand
30-11-2010 23:32
Students in London today did a brilliant job of avoiding and evading police kettles, keeping the coppers on the run for most of the day. Rapid movement and a spontaneous route kept the demo ahead of police lines. The Met, clearly run ragged, whinged that the demo had started too early and caught them out!Protest at London Lib Dem conference– This Saturday, Chalk Farm
30-11-2010 23:32
Before the General Election all Lib Dem MPs promised to vote against any attempt to increase tuition fees.They now plan to break their promise. There is still time to make them keep their promise.
Cambridge Student Demo on Nov 30
30-11-2010 23:05
Full article | 2 additions | 2 comments
Loads of people arrested in Trafalgar Square
30-11-2010 22:35
Everyone kettled and then arrested for breach of the peace at the end of demoA Thousand Take To The Streets On Student Day Of Action
30-11-2010 22:22
Overview of events up until about 3pm today
!-- Feature Image change class to "left" to align image left--> First reports are back from people involved in the demonstrations today in Bristol protesting the proposed cuts to EMA and higher education and their replacement with university fees of up to £9000 a year. Reports place around a thousand people on the demo today, which toured a large part of the city centre, evading attempts by the police to kettle and contain the demo as they did last week when protesters were kept out of the city centre. Some reports have come in that police have used horses to charge crowds which are largely comprised of schoolchildren, and that there have been several arrests, again including a number of minors. gran writes I wasn't able to make last week, so wasn't sure what to expect. Neither did most of the kids on the street it seemed. No one knew what the plan was, most hadn't been on a demo before last week, and all of them were buzzing with it. I attached myself to a bunch of a dozen or so who were moving purposefully in a 'where we think the others are' direction. Proudly displaying their terribly postmodern placard (Legalise Weed- as they said, got a lot of smiles, and it did have Cameron cuts stuff on the back). After banter about how you say 'fuck the police' in Spanish, it became apparent that most of these people had never met each other before either, but were well up for grinning at the shoppers we passed as we went through Broadmead. Around us we saw other tributaries, then suddenly, there was main event. A rapidly moving river of cardboard signs, people who'd made a gesture towards wearing black, and a lot of students and school kids.
From there on in it was basically a march. But not like any I've experienced. It was of course entirely un-negotiated with the cops- who intermittently made attempts to kettle it, and it was big, upwards of a thousand I'd guess, with people joining on as the day went through. But the significant thing about it was it's speed. It moved fast and with impressive sense of purpose from one target to the next, holding a space long enough to let others catch up or join if they wanted to, moving on before the police could assess and kettle. It took roads, but parted smoothly for ambulances twice, before reforming to stop other traffic. And it got around a bit.
Full Story | Bristol Anti Cuts 30/11 | Legal Info for Student Day of Action | Police Violence Against Students
The crowd left the square on time.
It was the first pleasant culture shock in a fun packed day. I wasn't able to make last week, so wasn't sure what to expect. Neither did most of the kids on the street it seemed. No one knew what the plan was, most hadn't been on a demo before last week, and all of them were buzzing with it.
I attached myself to a bunch of a dozen or so who were moving purposefully in a 'where we think the others are' direction. Proudly displaying their terribly postmodern placard (Legalise Weed- as they said, got a lot of smiles, and it did have Cameron cuts stuff on the back). After banter about how you say 'fuck the police' in Spanish, it became apparent that most of these people had never met each other before either, but were well up for grinning at the shoppers we passed as we went through Broadmead. Around us we saw other tributaries, then suddenly, there was main event. A rapidly moving river of cardboard signs, people who'd made a gesture towards wearing black, and a lot of students and school kids.
From there on in it was basically a march. But not like any I've experienced. It was of course entirely unnegotiated with the cops- who intermittently made attempts to kettle it, and it was big, upwards of a thousand I'd guess, with people joining on as the day went through.
But the significant thing about it was it's speed. It moved fast and with impressive sense of purpose from one target to the next, holding a space long enough to let others catch up or join if they wanted to, moving on before the police could assess and kettle. It took roads, but parted smoothly for ambulances twice, before reforming to stop other traffic. And it got around a bit.
One of my favorite moments was having a conversation with one of the cordon line about what legislation they were holding us under etc, to see a not insubstantial crowd come up behind him- "seriously mate, turn round", the line disintegrated, and we moved back into the center of town. Right to the belly of the beast, to the entrance of Calbot Circus. Not the sort of venue designed for easy use of riot horses. Access to some of the most spectacular local examples of capitalist excess was corked off for 20 minutes or more, before moving on to Vodeaphone.
There was a standoff at the door, with staff behind the double glass swing doors clearly freaked, and the crowd trying to push its way in. Thing was, although the lads at the front were up for it, they knew the staff on the other side weren't the enemy. We were just turning round to block the flow of Vodaphones cash from the outside, when a bunch of cops waded in, and forced everyone back (by about 5 foot). There was about a one minute food fight, where some squirty sauce and a pineapple top were deployed, but then the crowd moved off again. As we were moving away the shutters were coming down. On the inside of the glass I think.
Apart from the cops that waded in outside vodeaphone, who tasted a lot more like the Met, and the mounted cops, who are trained to be shits, the police were markedly more sane and human than I'm used to encountering.
And the crowd had way more energy- we went round the mall, and up the hill, and down the hill, , and round the mall and up the hill, and, well, you get the picture. A lot of vehicles were stuck in the resulting traffic, but when a posse of very over excited 15 year olds approached them in turn and asked them to honk most did, and every honk was answered with riotous cheering. A lot of passing traffic honked spontaneous support anyway. At one particularly fine point a woman had wound down her window and was being high fived by a every person who passed nearest to her.
The final cordon moved in relatively quickly outside the uni. A bunch of schoolgirls, about 13 years old I'd guess, had done a brilliant bit of public order work- spreading across a road the police were trying to put a line on. They were cheerfully chanting 'fuck the police'. I heard as I was leaving that 5 or 6 young girls had been arrested. Don't know if it was them. The van drivers and mounted cops were getting sketchy, the use of the horses from the middle of a crowd is always a recipe for messiness, though I didn't hear of any injuries at that stage. They were letting water and biscuits in and there were ways out for people not too worried to look for them. The vibe seemed slightly shaken but still upbeat.
The biggest theme for the day, banner wise, was Hogwarts. It made me feel very old. But also more hopeful than I have in a long time. Todays protest sustained a massive amount of disruption. those with limited experience got used to evading the authorities, and people seemed to listen to each other, to reach out, have a laugh, and generally start reseeding community in places that have been sterile far too long. If this is just the beginning, and it feels like it, then 2011 is going to be an interesting year.
Day X2- EPIC demo hits Oxford
30-11-2010 22:07
Today a rowdy demo involving hundreds of secondary school kids and sixth formers took over the centre of Oxford.Uni of Nottingham occupied in anti-fees protest
30-11-2010 21:23
As part of a second day of action against fees and cuts, students at Nottingham University have occupied The Great Hall in The Trent Building on University Park.
A third day of action is planned for Sunday 5th December.
Links: Interview with occupier | Photos from Student Rally and Occupation | Uni of Nottingham Occupation
Previous occupation: Nottingham Gaza solidarity occupation violently evicted | Nottingham university occupied in solidarity with Gaza
National action: Student Resistance Spreads
The occupiers have issued the following statement:
University of Nottingham students are staging an occupation in the Great Hall on University campus, in order to protest against the proposed tripling of university tuition fees, and the upcoming funding cuts to education and the public sector in general. We completely reject the Browne review, seeing it as nothing more than a cynical attempt to further privatise the education sector.
The government’s proposals will render higher education more inaccessible than ever to most students, through fees hikes and the removal of provisions for access initiatives. Further they will drastically affect the quality of education future students will receive, by the cutting of the vast majority of government funding currently received.
We are appalled that our very own vice-chancellor, Professor David Greenaway, has publicly supported the Browne review, neglecting the interests of his own university and it’s staff and students. Hence we have decided to protest peacefully, democratically and legally, in order to keep the student voice heard.
We welcome and encourage everybody, students and otherwise, to join or support us. We express solidarity with other students acting against these cuts, as well as other anti-cuts campaigns, including locally the Notts Save Our Services campaign. We urge students to support this campaign and others, and help protect the public services of the town in which we study. Only through fighting together, as students and workers, can we resist the attack on our society that this government is proposing.
1. We demand that the University of Nottingham lobby the Russell Group and the government and issue a statement condemning all cuts to higher education, the EMA and the rise in tuition fees.
2. We demand that the University of Nottingham implement a complete open book policy in regards to existing budget constraints
3. We demand that the University of Nottingham ensure no redundancies for teaching, research or support staff.
4. Ensure that no victimization or repercussions for anyone participating in the occupation.
5. Allow free access in and out of the building.
Second Lecture - University For Strategic Optimism
30-11-2010 21:22
As part of today's DayX2 student's protests the University For Strategic Optimism has given a second lecture in a Tesco's megastore in London's Old Kent Road.
The first lecture took place during the DayX students protests of last Thursdayy 25th November.
University For Strategic Optimism blog here
Veggies Support Students In Nottingham Occupation
30-11-2010 20:48
Veggies at drop of a hat stepped into feed the students of Nottingham University.King’s College London Occupation
30-11-2010 20:22
Please find below the statement from the King's College London occupation, please circulate this as soon as possible
Students at King’s College London have peacefully occupied a large lecture theatre (K2.31) on the Strand Campus to express their outrage at the government’s proposed cuts and rises in tuition fees. We ask the management of King’s College London to support us in our campaign to oppose such proposed changes in the British education system. We urge all students and members of the King’s College London Students’ Union to join us. We stand together with other students, workers and citizens facing cuts from the coalition government in the UK. We also extend our solidarity internationally to those students and workers around the world who are engaged in similar movements.
Please send messages of support to kcloccupation1@gmail.com, or visit our blog kcloccupation1.blogspot.com, our Facebook page ‘KCL occupation’ or twitter @kcloccupation
KCL Occupation
- e-mail: kcloccupation1@gmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.kcloccupation1.blogspot.com
Why we are on the streets
30-11-2010 20:22
A few thoughts in response to Cameron's article in the Evening Standard
I spent the day out on the streets of London today.
I'm not a student myself anymore but I had a day free from work at last so I thought I'd take the opportunity to show some solidarity with the schoolkids and students.
I have to say I was impressed. Despite the snowstorm and freezing winds blowing through us, people were still out and about. They managed to avoid being kettled in the beginning and just kept moving, with a trail of coppers running after them looking like they might have heart attacks at any moment form all the exertion.
As I was leaving at the end of the day, I picked up a copy of the ES to see how the corporate media were going to portray us today. I got to page 14 and found Cameron's latest piece of smug, patronizing drivel.
NEWS ALERT!! We've all got it wrong apparently. No need to panic, we've all got it wrong and if we read the small print on the government's plans we'll realise that nobody's going to have to pay anything when they are actually at university.
Welcome to the land of doublethink, Orwell would be proud.
Fact no 1) Changes to higher education funding are unavoidable
Apparently that's a fact, no argument possible. Never mind that £120 billion worth of taxes went uncollected or avoided by our richest citizens last year. We wouldn't want to ask the government's best friend Philip Green to contribute, better let Monaco host his millions as a tax exile.
So, we've got to make cuts:
Funding for teaching costs for English higher education this year stand at 5 billion. Their solution apparently is to cut all government funding for arts and humanities, that'll solve the problem.
Fact no 2) Introducing market values into the education system will drive up standards.
If all the funding comes from students then universities will have to compete to attract them and so will improve their standards of teaching, research and facilities to attract students.
This is the great myth so beloved by conservatives.
Thatcher started it in the NHS in the 80s and I can see the disastrous effects now as I try and work in the health service. NHS hospitals now have to compete with private companies to provide services which are bought by primary care trusts. What happens is that the private companies win all the nice, money-making contracts eg to provide cataract operations, hip replacements, hernia repairs etc. The NHS hospitals instead win the right to look after the frail and elderly who need weeks of care and rehabilitation for which PCTs pay pittance. In addition when Mrs X (86) has her hip operation by the BUPA hospital and then strangely enough develops complications because 86 yr old ladies don't respond well to general anaesthetics and surgical operations, she gets shipped down the road to the NHS hospital to sort her out.
(sorry, medical rant over)
Anyway, if universities have to compete with each other that will not necessarily drive up standards. Oxbridge may be able to compete but unis who depend on government help are not going to be able improve themselves overnight to attract students. Who's going to cover the first 5 years it takes to make any changes. Never mind, who cares if a few local unis get shut down?
Then what about subjects that are economically unpopular? Who's going to give you a job for getting a degree in ancient history or music or classics or zoology in today's economic climate?
Answer: cut these courses
Fact no 3) The government's plans are fair!
When you got to university from now onwards you won't have to pay the £9000+ a year up-front. You won't need to pay it back until you earn more than £21000/year. Therefore nobody should be discouraged.
There's a fundamental lack of understanding of what it means to be in debt here. They simply can't seem to understand why the prospect of leaving university with an average debt of > £35,000 would put some people off. I guess when you've never had to worry about money, when you've never owed anyone money, remember 18 members of the cabinet are millionaires at the moment, you can't understand why you would be worried about owing money to the bank, or the student loan company or whoever it is is going to provide the loans, a point they haven't made clear yet.
People are going to be put off, schoolkids all around me today were telling me they have been put off.
This is the propaganda that is being put out everyday
We need to challenge it at every opportunity.
Next time the students come out on the streets and stand in front of lines and lines of riot cops, every person out there who has benefited from a state-sponsored education owes it to them to stand right beside them.
