A 'POWERFUL' message from students protesting against 'outrageous' tuition fee rises in London was 'undermined' by violence, Bucks Students' Union say.

Ten coaches with about 430 students, academics and union staff, went up to the capital from Bucks New University yesterday.

They joined around 50,000 others who marched outside Parliament while Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was grilled over the Liberal Democrats' higher education policy u-turn at Prime Minister's Questions.

Although the majority of demonstrators were peaceful, Millbank Tower, where the Conservative party has its headquarters, was pelted with bottles and windows were smashed.

Flares were thrown at police and 50 were arrested.

Chris Clark, vice president of education at Bucks Students' Union, said: “Undoubtedly, it has undermined the message that 50,000 students were there for and it's most unfortunate that the minority of people, who weren't even students, initiated the violence.

“Yesterday was so powerful the message that was coming from 99 per cent of the people – the peaceful protesters.

“But every student that was there has a positive tale to tell.

“I think we can hold our heads up high, I'm immensely proud of our students.”

He said the rioters appeared to be a “splinter protest” and his members had not wanted to be associated with it.

No Bucks students were arrested or injured and all got home safely, he said.

Asked whether the march would sway politicians to change their minds, he said: “I think the Liberal Democrat party can't be feeling very comfortable at the moment.

“They have time now to perhaps rethink their stance and how they're going to vote.”

Bucks Students' Union, alongside the national membership, will continue to pursue a campaign against the fees rise.

The Government insisted the new system, to be introduced in 2012, will be fairer.

Students will not have to start paying back their loans until they are earning at least £21,000 – rather than £15,000.

A new £150m National Scholarships Programme will be targeted at 'bright potential students' from poor backgrounds.

Students from families with incomes of up to £25,000 will be entitled to a more generous student maintenance grant of up to £3,250.

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