Students and local people protested in Preston city centre today to urge Liberal Democrat ministers to vote against a rise in tuition fees.

Around 100 students from UCLan, representatives of the UNITE union and members of the public gathered together in the flag market. Speeches were made by Michael Palmer, President of UCLan’s Students’ Union, Ben Whitaker from the National Union of Students, and Cllr Carl Crompton who represented Preston MP Mark Hendrick.

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Students also made speeches and some performed a song they had written about tuition fee rises.

UCLan students gathered at the Student’s Union and then marched into the town centre after rallying support outside Whitendale halls of residence on their way.

Before the event, Michael Palmer, President of UCLan Students’ Union said:

“We are expecting up to 300 people turning up at the students’ union and possibly with more meeting us at the flag market. We wish to thank Mark Hendrick for stating that he will vote against the increase in tuition fees but we also wish to urge those other MPs from the surrounding areas that they still have a vote and to stick to their pledge and if not we will be chasing them up afterwards to discuss why they have betrayed students; current future ones and their families.

“The ‘Why Pay More to Get Less’ campaign, which Laura’s run has been a bloody good one and I would like to thank Laura for all her hard work and to all the other Student Affairs Committee who have put in their hard work. Hopefully we will be protesting in a peaceful manner so we have worked well with the police and the local authorities.

Laura Hicks, Campaigns Officer at UCLan Students’ Union said:

“It’s been a really good team effort so far and we have put in so much hard work and I think it will all pay off.”

Reporting by Hannah Breeze
Video by Daniel Bentley
Editing and audio by Joseph Stashko