Campaign Marches On
The streets of London were filled with students again last Sunday as the campaign against top-up fees continued.
The NUS organised march followed a route that included Parliament, Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, where the protesters were addressed by speakers, including Labour MP Frank Dobson and NUS President Mandy Telford.
The Oxford delegation contained just under 200 students and sang throughout the event, including songs such as "Tony Blair's a Tory" and "My Grant Cheque lies over the Ocean."
Helena Puig Larrauri, President of OUSU, told The OxStu: "It was great to see so many Oxford students marching for free education. It shows that this is an issue people care enough about to spend their Sunday chanting and walking through London in the cold!"
The Metropolitan Police estimated that over 10,000 students attended the event, though NUS claim that the figure was closer to 31,000.
A similar march last December saw Tony Blair make a statement to the House of Commons reassuring parents that they would not have to pay up-front fees.
The event was held to demonstrate continued opposition to the government's Higher Education white paper, which could see fees increase to £3000 for students starting their course in 2006.
Rob Vance, who attended the march, told The OxStu: "I hope Labour backbenchers stop ignoring the wishes of students and the wider public who want an education system based on academic merit, not the ability to pay."
Photo: Frederic Aranda
23rd Oct 2003