Two Oxford campaign groups did a 'chicken flashmob' at the Liberal Democrat Constitiuency Offices todayat 1pm. They protested against cuts to universities and other public services. The 50 protesters dressed as chickens, claiming that both Nick Clegg and Vince Cable, the country's top two Liberal Democrats, pulled out of visits to Oxford because they do not want to face protests.


Since the Coalition government announced the deepest cuts to public spending since the 1920s there have been two appointments for senior Liberal Democrats to come to Oxford. Both have faced large protests. Vince Cable was widely reported to have cancelled his visit two days before an appointment at Oxford University. He claimed that the police had advised him not to come, although they later denied this. A protest of 1200 students happened anyway on the 28 October.


Now Nick Clegg has also cancelled his appointment to speak at Oxford Student Union Debating Society on 17 November, stating 'diary issues'. Students had planned a large protest against his U-turn on support for tuition fees and cuts. He has apologised to local Liberal Democrat supporters in a letter, and promises to return.


Save Our Services campaigner, Jane Townsend, said: “It seems that there are no top Lib Dems that aren't too yellow to come to Oxford. It's no coincidence that there were protests openly planned for their visits, and that they both pulled out at the last minute. Is that their solution to public anger at their U-turns on student fees and broader cuts, hide away from the public? That's not being accountable and that shows that they know their policies are unfair.”


Oxford Education Campaign member, Claire Jones, said: “Coalition policies on education, are making it the elite preserve of families that can afford huge fees. If Lib Dems vote for fees they will be breaking a pledge that each of them has made to students not to do so. And now they won't even come to Oxford to hear what we've got to say. They are chickens”

See www.oxfordsos.org.uk to get involved with Save Our Services and fight public service cuts

Also get involved with Oxford Education Campaign for a just education system on  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_130167367036847