As reported by Sarah Cunnane in the Times Higher Education:
Students protesting against plans for higher tuition fees and the abolition of the Education Maintenance Grant have barricaded themselves in the constituency office of the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats as demonstrations continue across the country.
The occupation of the office of Simon Hughes, MP for Southwark and Bermondsey, on 25 November was led by students from the London School of Economics, London South Bank University and the University of the Arts London.
They said they planned to stay put until Mr Hughes honoured his pre-election pledge to vote against a hike in fees. A parliamentary vote on the issue is due to take place before Christmas.
Charlotte Gerada, general secretary of the LSE Students’ Union, said: “We campaigned for [Lib Dem MPs]. We’ve written letters, met with MPs, marched and demonstrated [in opposition to higher fees], but the Lib Dems have still refused to keep their promise.”
The occupation is part of a wave of student action across the country.
The universities of Strathclyde, Oxford, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Essex, Cardiff, Bristol, Plymouth, Leeds, Manchester, Sussex, Dundee, Newcastle and Roehampton, as well as the University of the West of England, the University of East London, London South Bank, Goldsmiths, University of London, Royal Holloway, University of London, the School of Oriental and African Studies, University College London and the LSE have all been disrupted by student occupations.
The universities of Warwick, Birmingham, Sheffield, Brighton and Manchester Metropolitan were all host to occupations earlier in the week.
Many protesters began the occupation of their institutions on 24 November as part of “Day X” – a continued protest against government cuts. School pupils, sixth formers and university students marched across the country to demonstrate against the plans.
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