'The Liberal Democrat leader of Newcastle city council has told students who occupied the council chamber that he will lobby party leader Nick Clegg not to raise tuition fees.
David Faulkner said he had a "fair dialogue" with the students and agreed to e-mail all the party's MPs voicing opposition to the fees plan.
MPs will vote on Thursday whether to raise tuition fees to £9,000 per year. Student protesters say they will occupy schools as well as universities.
Students in Newcastle entered the council chamber on Tuesday afternoon. Among their demands was for the council leader to lobby MPs against the plan to raise tuition fees.
Mr Faulkner, the council leader, said he was sympathetic to the students' views and said that if he had been an MP he would vote against the fees proposals.
As such he has agreed to send an e-mail to Lib Dem MPs, including Mr Clegg, saying he hoped they will "oppose the proposals".
"I understand the strength of feeling," said Mr Faulkner.
Students campaigning against higher fees and public spending cuts have been staging an occupation at Newcastle University - and the wave of occupations has seen at least four more occupations starting, in Bath, Bradford, Bristol and Goldsmiths.'
Via BBC News
See 'Day X in Newcastle: unite our forces on 9 December'
Share
No comments:
Post a Comment