London: "Students and tutors, unite and fight. No ifs, no buts, no education cuts" — rang out loud under the shadows of Westminster, yesterday as hundreds took to the streets of London, protesting government cuts in higher education funding.
"Management get out, we know what you're all about: cuts, job losses, money for the bosses" the crowd cried in unison, in additional protest to proposed redundancies in a number of universities and colleges in the UK.
The protest was held just one day before election voting begins today, and weaved its way from King's College in the Strand to Parliament Square, under the watchful face of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
Drowned out by the students' chants, John, Chair, University and College Union, College of North West London, told Gulf News of the significant cuts to his college's staff. Leading the protest, he clutched a banner reading: "Injury to one is an injury to all."
Job risk
According to the University and College Union (UCU), more than 400 jobs are at risk at Barnet College, City and Islington College, College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, College of North West London, Greenwich College, Hackney College, Lambeth College, Lewisham College, Richmond upon Thames College, Tower Hamlets College and Westminster Kingsway College.
"Fight the rise, occupy, fight for the right to work" the students and tutors shouted, as the traffic came to a standstill to make way for the procession.
Hannah, 19, a student at King's College London, spoke to Gulf News between chants through her megaphone.
"We're protesting against the government cuts to higher education, mismanagement in the university and also in universities throughout the UK. She blames the government for the cuts to a certain extent: "We're in a financial crisis, and really you need higher education to help the recession. So they should be investing in higher education and not cutting back because they're cutting off a lifeline if they do that."
Although disillusioned by the government, most students that spoke to Gulf News said they would be voting: often, voters abstain in protest.
