Students eye Westminster as MPs prepare to vote on tuition fees

Tens of thousands of students are in London to protest against a rise in tuition fees as MPs take part in a crunch vote on higher education funding today.

Up to 40,000 students and lecturers from across the UK are expected to participate in demonstrations around Whitehall and the University of London student union before marching to Westminster where MPs will later decide on whether to lift the cap on tuition fees, currently set at £3,920 a year.

The Student Christian Movement has voiced strong opposition to the plans, saying that the Government should be striving to make universities more accessible to every person who aspires to higher education, regardless of income or background.

Its National Coordinator, Hilary Topp, said increasing tuition fees would have a “catastrophic impact” on future generations of students.

Tim Stacey, an SCM member and student at the University of York, said: “The proposed changes to education funding are incompatible with Jesus’ radical message of inclusivity and justice, and will deter students from poorer backgrounds from applying to university and benefiting from the opportunities that higher education brings.”

Police are on high alert after previous demonstrations against higher fees turned violent. The SCM said it praised the actions of students taking part in nonviolent occupations and protests across the country.

“[They] should be applauded for their selfless actions,” said Ms Topp.

If the Government’s plans are approved, universities will be able to charge students as much as £9,000 a year in fees. They would be expected to start repayments on the debt once they started earning £21,000.

UCCF, the umbrella body for Christian Unions across the country, said that attitudes to the plans varied among its thousands of student members.

Pod Bogul, UCCF spokesman, said: “UCCF is made up of thousands of students who are members of Christian Unions and who all have different opinions on this matter. So it would be inappropriate to speak for all these students.

“However we would want to see as many students who want to engage in higher education able to do so.”

Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg have refused to back down over the proposals, despite the likelihood of a revolt by many Liberal Democrat and some Tory MPs.

Mr Cameron said the plans were “fair”, while Mr Clegg described opponents of the plans as “dreamers”.