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Students plan walkout over fees

LONDON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Thousands of students across Britain will take part in a "walkout" next week to protest budget cuts and fee increases, organizers said.

More than 50,000 people took part in a national walkout Wednesday in London, and more than 16,000 have signed up to participate in next week's action, The Guardian reported.

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Organizers said they expect sit-ins, demonstrations and occupations by students to protest plans to raise tuition fees and scrap a stipend called the education maintenance allowance.

"The great thing about what has happened over the last week is that this idea of protest has embedded itself in the wider student community," said Michael Chessum, 21, co-founder of the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, which called the protest for next week. "All of a sudden there is a feeling that we do have some power that we can change things through peaceful direct action."

Students said they fear budget cuts and tuition increases will make it difficult for them to attend college.

"They are cutting the education maintenance allowance, and people are struggling enough already," said Ellen White, 18, studying sociology and history at Westminster Kingsway College.

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"This is a really big deal for a lot of working class students here and as soon as you mention it people get really concerned. It is the difference between whether they can get lunch or not, whether they are going to be able to afford the tube and get to college on time."

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