Police broke up a student protest occupying Nick Clegg’s constituency office today.
Around 15 student activists from the Free University of Sheffield group piled into theLib Dem leader’s office in Sheffield Hallam, wearing Nick Clegg masks.
The protesters demanded the scrapping of university tuition fees, unfurling banners both inside and outside the office.
One banner read “Nick Clegg betrayed us, we want revenge.”
Police were made aware of the protest shortly after 11.30am and arrived shortly after to break up the protest, but they say no arrests were made.
According to Sheffield student newspaper Forge Press , one protester said: “This is retribution for Nick Clegg’s student betrayal. We want to inspire students to act on their ideals.”
Nick Clegg was in Westminster attending Prime Minister’s Questions as the occupation was taking place.
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “Earlier today, a small group of people briefly entered the office. They were asked to leave by a member of staff but refused.
“The police were called and the group left peacefully after a short sit in protest.”
The protest group said in a statement that they planned to use Clegg’s office to hold seminars on “the failures of liberal democracy and the first downfall of the Liberal party.”
Activist Alison Kwan said: “By occupying Clegg’s constituency office we aren’t just condemning Nick Clegg’s actions. We are rejecting the broader political system that has failed to represent us and we are making our voices heard in a way that voting in a general election could never allow”
The protest group have reportedly moved to a nearby car park, where they are holding the promised seminar.
