(UK) Labour MPs and unions lend support to November student protests

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

A group of unions and Labour MPs has lent its support to next month's student demonstrations against education cuts, saying that "the profit motive has no place in education".

In a letter to the Guardian, the general secretaries of the Unite, PCS, FBU, NUJ, RMT and BFAWU unions vow to oppose what they term "the government's cuts offensive" as part of a joint fight by workers and students.

The letter, also signed by Tony Benn, and the MPs Mike Wood, Katy Clark and John McDonnell, reads: "We believe that education is a public service, which should be owned publicly, controlled democratically, and funded by taxing the rich. The profit motive has no place in education. We recognise that the fight against the coalition government's cuts offensive is a joint fight, by workers and students, in defence of a common interest."

It concludes: "We support students campaigning against the government's higher education white paper; we stand alongside those school and college students who are planning to walk out; and we oppose any attempt by the authorities to curb their right to protest."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/30/mps-unions-support-student-demonstrations