This year's student protests are planned to fit in with trade union activity against neoliberal 'austerity' measures being imposed on the UK, as elsewhere.

Today's statement from a range of student groups (though not the discredited NUS) says: "As student campaigners, we fully support the trade union movement’s campaign against austerity, including the biggest wave of strike action since 1926.

"The government’s plans for universities represent a threat to the very purpose of education, with the poor being priced out of a marketised system of private providers, while school and FE students are being robbed of basic support.

"The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts has now called a national education demonstration for Wednesday November 9th, and we will organise for a day of mass direct action and walkouts to coincide with the strike. We will not allow this government to abolish the welfare state and destroy our futures."