Anger as education grants for poor axed

AN attempt by Labour to prevent the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) being scrapped was defeated last night as hundreds of angry students marched against the controversial plans.

The party's call for Education Secretary Michael Gove to rethink his decision was defeated by 317 votes to 258.

It followed a full day's debate in which Mr Gove was told he had "thrown into reverse" the social mobility that EMA had given hundreds of thousands of students from poorer backgrounds.

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The students' protest started in London's Piccadilly Circus where some waved banners which read: "Make Clegg and Cameron pay. Bring down the Government."

Police, who have handed out leaflets on what to do in case of violence, were keeping a low profile before the march set off to Parliament Square. The EMA is a weekly payment of between 10 and 30 given to the poorest 16 to 18-year-olds, living in households earning under 30,800 a year, to help them stay in education.

The Government has announced the grant is to be withdrawn, and it is has already been closed to new applicants.

Campaigners are warning that scrapping the grant will affect thousands of youngsters who rely on the money to help fund their studies.

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Sinead Rylance, 21, a nursing student at King's College London, from Bolton, said she would have been put off going to college without the EMA.

"I believe in free education for everyone," she said. "I'm against higher tuition fees and cutting the EMA."

Roads were closed along the route as the march went around Trafalgar Square and music was broadcast by a group of MCs from a sound system.

Police blocked the route to Parliament but other than the loud music the atmosphere was fairly subdued and the protest ended at around 7pm.

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A survey conducted by the University and College Union with the Association of Colleges found that seven in 10 EMA recipients said they would have to drop out if they lose their grant.

Unite, the UK's biggest union, has warned that opportunities for young people would be blighted if the allowance is scrapped, "damning hundreds of thousands who will be unable to reach their full potential."