Charlie Alford

Cardiff Uni student assaulted by security staff for holding Palestine flag

Post author:Skwawkbox
Post published:15 July 2026
Post last modified:16 July 2026

Security staff have twice assaulted a Cardiff University student — for holding a Palestine flag and then for trying to take a photo of them. The Caerdydd Students for Palestine (CS4P) group described what happened: As a student was on the way OUT of graduation she was physically assaulted and had the Palestinian flag ripped out of her hands with such violence it ripped her acrylic nails off. She was simply carrying the flag in her hands on her way out of the building. She was then assaulted AGAIN when trying to get photos of the staff after they refused to…

MPs accuse student loan system of “mis-selling” generation of graduates

Post author:Maddison Wheeldon
Post published:7 July 2026
Post last modified:7 July 2026

MPs from the Treasury Committee have released a new report which accuses the government of mis-selling student loans, pointing out that comparisons to mobile phone bills or cinema tickets were not reflective of the true cost of repayments. The MPs also want Chancellor Rachel Reeves to scrap plans to freeze the repayment threshold for people on the expensive Plan 2 loans. As things stand, it’ll stay at £29,385 from 2027 to 2030, instead of going up with inflation, meaning many graduates will end up paying back more. This choice to freeze – which will increase students’ repayments year on year if…

SOAS student ‘terror trial’ – final hearing approaches

Post author:The Canary
Post published:6 July 2026
Post last modified:6 July 2026

Wednesday 8 July will be a key hearing in the case of 22-year-old pro-Palestine student activist Sarah Cotte. Like every day of the trial, supporters from the Defend the SOAS 2 campaign will protest outside the Old Bailey. They’ll draw attention to what they say is the application of a pernicious terrorism law that has not just been misapplied in this instance but which should be repealed in its entirety. They say that a victory in this case would reinforce the right of protesters to support the Palestinian struggle for self-determination, which has been under consistent attack in recent years. Cotte,…

UK Student Accommodation White Paper 2026: A Practical Guide for Students

Post author:Nathan Spears
Post published:3 July 2026
Post last modified:5 July 2026

The UK student accommodation landscape in 2026 is defined by demand continuing to outpace supply in major university cities such as London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, alongside ongoing Renters’ Rights reforms reshaping the private rental sector with stronger tenant protections. For students, securing accommodation for the 2026/27 academic year requires early planning, clear budgeting, and reliance on verified booking channels. This guide outlines the UK rental landscape and a structured approach to safe housing search. Regional Differences in UK Student Accommodation Regional differences in UK student accommodation are driven by supply, student demand, and infrastructure. London, Manchester, and Edinburgh face higher pressure…

Student protesters defy event boss to expose arms insurance cover-up

Post author:The Canary
Post published:15 June 2026
Post last modified:15 June 2026

Student protesters have released footage and delivered letters to Sompo Insurance headquarters, defying attempts by event organisers to cover up the violent removal of activists from a major London financial conference. The incident occurred at the Insurance Linked Securities Conference, hosted by Insurance Insider, where four activists, including a 17-year-old student, were pushed and dragged from the venue by security. Security guards manhandled the 17-year-old student out of the event, as she shouted: “I’m just 17” and “Stop insuring genocide”. Activists accuse insurance company of ‘complicity’ The students had attended the event to demand that Sompo, a key sponsor, drop its…

Student loans inquiry into ‘mountain’ of degree debts begins

Post author:Cameron Baillie
Post published:2 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

Student organisations and experts are launching an inquiry into the defunct debt-bondage system of student loans across England. In particular, the National Union of Students (NUS) wants the inquiry to look at the interest rates. Additionally, it will examine threshold repayment mechanisms. The loans inquiry can’t come soon enough for many students or graduates on the sharp end of our privatised, financialised education model. Studies show that one in three people now think that a degree: just isn’t worth the amount of time and money. The structurally defunct student loans system Much of Europe and the developed world, more broadly, receives…