Student protest march is announced

The National Union of Students (NUS) is urging members to take to the streets of London in November in protest at rising fees and reduced employment.

NUS president Liam Burns calls for a new generation of activists to set an agenda for the next general election.

Mr Burns said young people had "a lot to be angry about".

The march, planned for 21 November, is the first national protest the NUS has called since the tuition fees protest in November 2010.

These protests descended into violence after a group of activists smashed windows, threw missiles and lit fires at 30 Millbank, the building where Conservative Party headquarters is based.

It led to more than 60 arrests, with dozens of people injured and taken to hospital.

The NUS condemned the violence and said the action, which had been organised jointly with the University and College Union (UCU), which represents lecturers, had been "hijacked" by a small minority.

Two years on, in a video to members, NUS president Mr Burns said: "You've got a lot to be angry about.

"You've had your education systematically attacked across the board by the coalition. And even if you get to the other end, what have you got to look forward to?

"Youth unemployment is at an all-time high, getting on the property ladder is next to impossible and we don't even have the safety net of pensions to look forward to any more.

"In a year in which there are no votes in Parliament and no legislation coming before politicians, it's about time we started setting the agenda."

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "We support the NUS demonstration and share many of the frustrations felt by students.

"At a time when other countries are investing in education our government is cutting college and university places and making it more expensive to study.

"Ministers need to harness further and higher education to provide young people with opportunities and a future."