Deputy PM Clegg's cinema show is greeted by protest in Leicester
Protesters fighting Government cuts and tuition fees gave Nick Clegg a frosty welcome during his visit to Leicestershire yesterday.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat party leader was in town to encourage supporters ahead of the Leicester South by-election and council elections on May 5.
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The Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat party leader Nick Clegg
His visit ended with a question-and-answer session at the Showcase Cinema, in HighcrossLane, where about 100 Capital FM listeners grilled him on everything from electoral reform and taxation to war in Libya and the NHS.
However, it was tuition fees – and Mr Clegg's decision to go against a party election promise by supporting the increases – which brought out protesters.
Up to 50 demonstrators gathered outside the cinema – singing slogans and waving placards aimed at Mr Clegg.
Gateway College student Venita Laxman, 17, from Rushey Mead, said: "I want to study design at university but it's going to be very difficult for me. The tuition fees are going to be way too expensive. ."
City council worker Sally Skyrme, 41, from Thurnby Lodge, said: "I'm a single parent and have a 19-year-old son who wants to study at university. Unfortunately, I will be losing my job in two months time and with the cost of tuition fees there's no way I can afford to pay for him."
The demonstration was organised by Leicester's Youth Fight for Jobs and Education campaign.
Organiser Becci Heagney, 23, who graduated from Leicester University last year, said of Mr Clegg: "After visiting university campuses and signing pledges that he would vote against any rise in tuition fees, he has voted and recommended that fees are trebled.
"This, along with other cuts to education, will mean that education will become something only for the rich.
"Young people are being thrown on the scrap heap while bankers and big business are getting away with millions."
Mr Clegg defended his position in the cinema before an audience selected in a competition run by Capital FM, who hosted the session.
He said: "People seem to forget that our party lost the election, we came third.
"I don't take any pleasure whatsoever in making these difficult decisions but they have to be made.
"I didn't come into Government to make cuts, but not doing so would be like Miriam (his wife) and I racking up great debts on our credit cards and then asking our three kids to pay them off."
Earlier in the day, Mr Clegg met worshippers at the Masjid Umar Mosque, in Evington, and Liberal Democrat supporters in Hinckley.
Speaking at the end of his visit, he said: "It was a pleasure being back in Leicestershire and catching up with some old friends."
21 Comments
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by diane, coalville
Monday, April 04 2011, 10:38PM
“This government have done that many uturns in one a year, i am not surpised the public are doing a uturn on them and not voting for them, i truly believe they just don't know what the hell they are doing and it shows,”
by Dave, HBBC
Monday, April 04 2011, 1:49PM
“Encourages... You really do live in cloud cuckoo land...
This is not a party political thing. You really are desperate aren't you?”
by Peter, Wigston
Monday, April 04 2011, 12:53PM
“Quote: "I find it, as you say "Quite incredible!!" that somebody thinks that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for household borrowing so he can ensure that household debt increases."
You don't seem to realise that this inadequate millionaire Chancellor's deliberate policy is that ordinary household spending and consequent high levels of household debt should be encouraged to increase greatly to replace revenue lost because of the spending cuts.
Otherwise tax receipts will suffer enormously and government borrowing will inevitably keep on rising as it is now, with increasing levels of unemployment to 3 million +.
I do not agree with this policy. Neither do I agree with forcing young students into large scale debt (£50,000 or more) to pay for incredibly high tuition fees.”
by K, Leicester
Sunday, April 03 2011, 11:31PM
“Peter of Wigston is coming out with his usual self centred c***. As you seem to know so much about politics tell us how YOU would get the country back on its feet.”
by Danny S, Leicestershire
Sunday, April 03 2011, 10:16PM
“I tell you what he's got more balls than most of you homey boys!!
He's a proper politician. Could have sat in the wings harping on all day, no power, nothing to really change. Grabbed his £70,000 money and made some good sound bites. Nasty this,government is that etc etc, but Nope... he took the harder choice...
Think about it.
I respect NC despite differing from him politically. He has got balls!”
by Nick Miles, Leicester
Sunday, April 03 2011, 5:20PM
“Oh...
So that's why unwashed, typical Labour agitators was in the high cross then. I'm surprised they did not try to take over the posh shops and start a riot!
I blame the Tories, Thatcher, Churchill, William Pitt the Younger for making New Labour getting us all into debt.
New Labour...New lies.”
by duane, Leicester
Sunday, April 03 2011, 2:58PM
“Clegg is one of the biggest disgraces ever to enter the political arena. The Liberal Democrats will never be forgiven by the student vote. NEVER!”
by m, le3
Sunday, April 03 2011, 10:59AM
“I find the argument that the debts students will acquire dont really matter because they dont have to pay them until they achieve a certain salary a bit spurious and also irresponsible. Its kind of like people building up massive credit carddebts on multiple cards, and not worrying about paying it back because they can just declare themselves bankrupt or enter some sort of voluntary arrangement.
Debt should be taken seriously. But debt isnt innately bad, it can be used by businesses and individuals constructively - just as it can by successive Chancellors of the Exchequer.”
by Dave, HBBC
Sunday, April 03 2011, 9:09AM
“That's right Peter of Wigston,
Osborne tightly controls which households borrow what amount of money!!!!
I find it, as you say "Quite incredible!!" that somebody thinks that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for household borrowing so he can ensure that household debt increases.
Or....
Perhaps individual households apply and borrow money for which they are personally responsible for. Now there is an idea.
This is not a party political issue. Households have borrowed money under all governments.
To try and make it party political smacks of desperation.”
by Peter, Wigston
Sunday, April 03 2011, 12:55AM
“Quote: "racking up great debts on our credit cards"
An interesting comment bearing in mind that at last year's budget the official forecast from Osborne was that household debt - which includes mortgages and credit card debt - would be 1,823 £billion.
But in a recent adjustment not highlighted in last month's budget (I wonder why not!), the Office of Budget Responsibility has raised that figure to 2,126 £billion.
Quite incredible!!
Osborne is intent on increasing the already sky high household debt by a staggering 300 £billion and hadn't got the courage to say so in his recent budget statement.
There's a surprise!”