National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts
A coalition of students and workers fighting against tuition fees and education cuts
Breaking news suggests Labour have managed to force a vote on EMA for 19 January. Watch this space!
Meanwhile, anticuts activists in Leeds today held a protest and banner drop off a bridge over the motorway. After the action, sixty school, college, university students and trade unionists held a meeting at Leeds Met to discuss further action.
On 11 January, Parliament will vote on scrapping Education Maintenance Allowances. So far this date has not been widely publicised; it looks like the Government is hoping to get the vote through without too many people noticing! [Read more...]
There has been some confusion in the student movement recently about the date 29 January. NCAFC is backing and helping to organise two mass student demonstrations against fees and cuts, one in London and one in Manchester. Here we explain why and advise activists on what to do on the day. [Read more...]
The first parliamentary vote might have gone through, but this is not the end! That is why, in the absence of action by NUS, the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts has called a second national demonstration in London, on Saturday 29 January. [Read more...]
Simon Hardy, National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, and Aaron Porter, National Union of Students, have given witness of police infringement of human rights on the last student demonstrations.
On the table was particularly the “kettling” technique and overall police violence.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights consists of twelve members appointed from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Committee is charged with considering human rights issues in the UK.
The Committee undertakes thematic inquiries on human rights issues and reports its findings and recommendations to the House. It scrutinises all Government Bills and picks out those with significant human rights implications for further examination.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), chaired by Andrew Dismore MP, consists of Members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Thematic Inquiries
As part of its work, the Committee undertakes inquiries into human rights issues during which it seeks evidence from a wide range of groups and individuals with relevant interests and experience. Initially the Committee calls for written evidence from interested parties, which is usually followed by taking oral evidence from a selection of those who submitted written evidence.
A report is usually then produced setting out the Committee’s findings and making recommendations to the Government.
We are living in exciting times!
Everyone at NCAFC is really happy about how much is going on and the amazing response we get from people all across the country. We are constantly bombarded with questions and affiliations and people wanting to organise local events.
As we understand that for some a quick supportive reply might suffice to get NCAFC’s support, it needs to be said that things are not that quick & easy.
There have been some “fake” NCAFC events going around Facebook and being Twittered about so here are our guidelines:
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We hope this helps.
Don’t put yourself in danger – only attend events you know the organising body of. If in doubt contact organisers and ask them to explain what security measures have been taken. It is bad enough that the police is violent even after we meet with them, imagine how they can get if they know nothing about the demo you are thinking of attending.
Keep safe and… Merry Christmas!
The morning after the big demonstration, supporters of the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts need to get together to discuss the next steps for our movement. [Read more...]
Students at the Camden School for Girls (in north London) have gone into occupation, following an anti-cuts teach-in last night.
[Read more...]
Dear NUT executive members
We thank you for your support for the student walkouts and protests that have taken place across the country.
In issuing a statement that teachers should support students taking part in protests, you sent a powerful message – that the attacks on education impact not just on H/E students, not just on F/E and school students, but teachers too, and society as a whole.
The date for the vote on tuition fees has now been announced: 9th December. In a cynical move the government has called the vote on a day they know MPs from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will not be present.
This outrageous attack not only on education but also on democracy should be met with a huge national march on Parliament on December the 9th.
Students and workers together can defeat these cuts, and we are writing to ask for your assistance:
• Push for the NUT to officially support the protest on 9th December
• Ask NUT branches to provide coaches for students and staff to come down to London on 9th December.
• Issue another statement of support. Ask NUT members and branches to make sure that students will not be persecuted for taking a day off school.
• Offer support to teachers, lecturers and any other staff if they walkout on that day.
In Solidarity
National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts
