Staff and students to join protest over funding cuts

The march past the Houses of Parliament this afternoon will include lecturers or students from seven of the region's universities and two further education colleges.

The University and College Union and the National Union of Students have organised the mass demonstration in response to major cuts to teaching budgets and the Government's plan to increase university tuition fees.

Fees are expected to be capped at around 9,000 – almost three times their current level.

Union members from Leeds University, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds Trinity University College, Bradford University, Huddersfield University, Sheffield University, Sheffield Hallam University, Doncaster College and Barnsley College are set to take part.

The march is set to start through central London at 12.30pm today, ending with a rally at Millbank.