During 2010 students march against the proposed tripling of university tuition fees. The protests were particularly interesting for their emotional intensity. Many of the students, voting for the first time, chose the Liberal Democrats because of an election pledge to vote against tuition fee rises. Once in power, they reneged on this pledge. This was also the first time most of these people marched or met a line of Riot Police.
The student protests were ultimately unsuccessful in their aim of preventing the government’s reforms. The demonstrations were highly controversial, being condemned for instances of violence and vandalism by the Government. The behaviour of the Metropolitan Police in dealing with the protests were reported as surprisingly violent and clearly unlawful, from what I saw this was most definitely the case. In reaction to attempted “kettling” on the route of the planned march, students began splintering into many smaller groups. As Police attempt to create new kettles these groups would charge, leading to running battles throughout London. Student protests end in December 2010. In August a year later, a different group of the same age begin rioting in Hackney, Brixton, Walthamstow, Peckham, Enfield, Battersea, Clapham, Croydon, Ealing, Barking, Woolwich and Lewisham as well as Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester after the shooting of Mark Duggan
