Student protests continue across the country

Braving the unprecedented amount of snow this winter students from across Edinburgh took part in a series of protests around the city, despite the passing of the tuition fees bill in England.

Protests in November and December took place in the city centre and outside the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. The winter months also saw the occupation of the University of Edinburgh’s Appleton Tower building by a group of students from the Edinburgh University Anti-Cuts Coalition.

Two students were arrested almost a month after they had been involved in student fee protests. According to Lothian and Borders Police, several of the nearly 300 people involved in the protest marches over the winter have been asked to attend voluntary interviews at St. Leonard’s police station.

Three charges of failing to give police details as witnesses were dropped on 9 December last year. It is not yet known what charges have been brought against the two arrested students.

Michael Shaw, spokesman for the Edinburgh Coalition, accused police of trying to scare people off future protests: "I feel it is very unusual for the police to do this so long after the event. In my opinion, police are using scare tactics to put us off demonstrating in the future."

Edward Woollard, 18, from Hampshire, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting throwing a fire extinguisher from a roof in London during a fees protest on 10 November.

While the increase in tuition fees does not apply in Scotland, it is feared that education cuts will affect both current and future students north of the border. The recent Scottish budget saw a cut in student bursaries.

Despite the vote passing in England, it is believed that education will play a key role in the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary Elections. Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Pringle, along with Sarah Boyack of Labour and Robin Harper, the Green Party’s Education Spokesman all pledged support for students during the winter protests.

Further Edinburgh Uncut protests also took place in the Princes Street branch of HSBC on 15 January. There is a general protest planned in London on 26 March 2011.