Protests surround Westminster as MPs debate fee rises

Thousands of demonstrators are surrounding the Houses of Parliament as MPs debate plans to raise tuition fees in England to £9,000 a year.

Protesters forced their way into Parliament Square and pressed against police lines.

Black-clad riot police are lined behind metal barriers surrounding the Houses of Parliament.

A breakaway group of protesters throwing flares were pushed back by mounted police.

There are reports that a police officer has been knocked off his horse and injured.

Students from around the UK have gathered in London for a day of protests and a rally - with police expecting about 20,000 demonstrators.

Backbench rebellion

Inside the House of Commons, Business Secretary Vince Cable told MPs the fee plans were fair and would maintain the quality of universities.

In the vote to be held this afternoon about the fees plan, the coalition government is facing its first major backbench rebellion.

It is expected that more than a dozen Liberal Democrat MPs will not support the government - including the party's deputy leader Simon Hughes.

Opening a noisy debate in the Commons, Mr Cable said the fees plan would "maintain high quality universities in the long-term, tackle the fiscal deficit and provides a more progressive system of graduate contributions based on people's ability to pay".

Liberal Democrat MPs have been under intense pressure - after their election pledge to vote against any fee increase.

Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has become a target for student anger, said that all Lib Dem ministers will vote in favour of the plan to raise fees.

But Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes has said he will abstain or even rebel against the government.

Mr Hughes said that the "level of fee increase... may have a significant disincentive effect on youngsters going to university".

Mr Clegg's own party's youth wing has also held last-ditch talks to persuade Lib Dem MPs to vote against the fee rise.

Spending cuts

In the debate, Conservative MP Andrew Percy has also spoken against the fee increase.

Shadow business secretary John Denham said the fee increase was being driven by the government's decision to have deep cuts to university funding.

"Even if they had just cut universities the way they are cutting other public services, students would be facing fees of no more than £4,000," he told the BBC.

"This is a choice they have made and they don't have to make it."

The package of measures would see fees rising to an upper limit of £9,000 per year - with requirements for universities to protect access for poorer students if they charge more than £6,000 per year.

College occupations

The proposals to raise fees have triggered a wave of student and school pupil protests, with a march last month leading to an attack on the Conservative headquarters in Millbank.

Dozens of universities have been occupied by students - with students in five more universities occupying buildings this week.

For the first time, there have also been occupations of schools by pupils.

Aaron Porter, president of the National Union of Students, urged MPs to "do the honourable thing and vote down these damaging proposals".

"Students are now descending on Westminster to ensure that promises to voters are kept and they are not sold down the river," said Mr Porter.

There has been no consensus within the university sector about the fees deal.

The university lecturers' union has backed student protesters - while university vice chancellors have been split over whether to support or oppose the fees plan.

The proposals to raise fees would apply to students in England. Welsh students will not pay the higher rate of fees, even at universities in England.

In Scotland there are no tuition fees - and Northern Ireland has still to decide how it will respond to any fee rise in England.