Controversial tuition fees increase bill passed

Coalition government victorious in bid to raise fees to maximum of �9,000 a year

TUITION fees will be raised to a maximum of �9,000 a year from 2012, after MPs passed the motion, with a majority of 21.

A total of 323 Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs voted for the proposal, while 302 MPs voted against it.

The vote followed a highly charged debate in the chamber.

Thousands of protesters have been kettled in Parliament Square as demonstrators have clashed with police. School pupils from Camden have been caught up in the police kettles.

They described how the largely peaceful demonstration turned ugly at around 3pm today, with some protesters throwing fireworks and fire crackers at police officers. At least one police officer is reported to have been seriously injured during the protests.

More updates to follow.