THE Green Party’s MP Caroline Lucas has strongly criticised the government’s plans to privatise the Student Loans Company by 2015.
On 20th November, hundreds of students and graduates will be taking peaceful action to protest against the sell off. Planned activities include ‘debt obstacle courses’, banner drops, marches and occupations. At least five Young Greens groups are organising events on campuses across the country.
In a statement backing the national Day of Action, Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said:
"Education is one of the most important rights we have, but the Government seems intent on treating it as a source of profit for private investors.
“Students are right to be angry, and to exercise their right to peaceful protest against yet another harmful and unnecessary privatisation.”
Young Greens North Co-Chair Hannah Ellen Clare will be leading University of Liverpool students at a rally and a light-hearted ‘debt obstacle course’ next Wednesday:
Clare said: "It's really important that we fight the continual attacks against students. This is just another in a long line and I hope the protests show how unacceptable it is"
"It's really important that we fight the continual attacks against students. This is just another in a long line and I hope the protests show how unacceptable it is"
Other Young Greens groups organising actions at their universities including Manchester, East Anglia, York, and Nottingham. 20 campuses in total are planning to take part in the Day of Action so far.
Lucas continued: “Selling off the student loan book takes us another step towards an American-style education system, where studying for a degree can mean being in debt for life. It’s clearly unfair on students, but also on taxpayers who will foot the bill when the Government has to pay penalty fees resulting from students being unable to repay.
More information about the Day of Action is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/234623673369439/?fref=ts