OXFORD University students occupying part of the Bodleian Library in support of seven who have refused to pay tuition fees have been given strong support by the Socialist Alliance.

The action took place on the same day as government proposals were announced supposedly to increase numbers of poorer and working class students at University.

The sit-in protestors have been served with an injunction, which they intend to contest today, as they fight on to defend seven Oxford University non-payers from expulsion by their colleges.

Oxford Socialist Alliance has been committed from the outset to make the fight for the abolition of tuition fees and restoration of the student grant in place of loans a key element in its platform for the General Election.

John Lister, the SA’s PPC for Oxford East, spoke at the occupation last night, praising their courage in taking a stand, which had helped draw attention to the hypocrisy of government ministers. He said:

"Who would have thought it would be a Labour government that imposed fees?

"Ministers talk of increasing numbers of university students from low-income families, while their own policy of imposing fees and axeing grants has meant ever larger numbers have been dropping out of university because they can’t afford to live. Ministers who, like myself, benefited from a free university education funded by grants have no right to deny this to the next generation of young people."

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