Students vow to maintain sit-in over fees rise

A group of 100 protesters have stayed overnight at a lecture hall in the Michael Sadler building since a national day of student action eight days ago. The group plan to hold a public meeting on Sunday to discuss opposing Government cuts and to put pressure on Leeds University to refuse to increase tuition fees.

Occupation spokesman Ian Pattison said: "The mood inside the occupation is even more positive than at the protests on the first day of action. We have been boosted by the messages of solidarity from trade unionists, the support of staff and students, and the news that Wales will not increase tuition fees. This is just the beginning of a mass movement that is waking up, and now understands that if we fight we can win.

"It is a democratic occupation where all decisions are made by working groups and mass meetings. We demand the vice chancellor refuses to implement cuts or tuition fee rises. We also demand that there are no victimisations or repercussions for those involved in the occupation, protests and walkouts."

Tuition fees could treble after a vote in the House of Commons next week. They are currently capped at 3,290 but cuts to the university teaching budgets in the Comprehensive Spending Review will mean institutions will have to more than double their fees in order to secure the same level of income they currently receive.

The Browne Review into higher education finance had called for universities to be able to charge what they like but the Government is suggesting introducing a cap of 9,000 a year.

Under the plans students would not begin paying back the debts from fees until they earned 21,000 – higher than the current 15,000 threshold. However under the proposed system a commercial rate of interest would be introduced. Any graduate who had not cleared their debts after 30 years would have it written off.

The National Union of Students has called for protests on campuses across the country on December 8 – the day before Parliament votes. A 9,000-candle vigil – designed to represent the anticipated higher cap level of 9,000 – is planned if the vote passes.