MP David Willetts was forced to cancel a visit to Gunwharf Quays on Friday after fears that he would be harassed by student protestors.
Mr Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, was due to attend a conference at the Aspex Gallery, Gunwharf, organised by the South East Coastal Communities Project which was set up to address the regeneration needs of socially deprived areas.
Local residents and representatives of the university and the private sector were due to meet to discuss the findings of the project but the conference was cancelled at the last minute after fears that student protestors would hijack it to demonstrate against university fees.
A spokesperson for Conference organisers South Coast Moneyline said: “Representatives from the University of Portsmouth, Aspex gallery, the police and Gunwharf Quays security met with us this morning to review the arrangements for the event. In the light of information received concerning a planned protest, and concerns about the security, safety and welfare of all persons, it was agreed to postpone the event.”
The conference was to celebrate the outstanding work carried out by university students on the South East Coastal Communities Project over the last three years, and a chance for local charities and social enterprises to showcase their work to a government minister.
A spokesman for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills denied that the government held any responsibility for cancelling the visit: “David was extremely keen to attend the conference this morning, but we were told it was cancelled by the police and the university,” she said.
AakashNaik, President of Portsmouth University Students Union said: “We wanted to go to the Aspex gallery to have a peaceful protest about fees. We wanted to approach Mr Willetts to discuss the issue as we have emailed him to ask him to come to the university on several occasions but he has failed to reply.
“30% of our students are from the local area and as Mr Willetts is MP for Havant he ought to have their interests at heart. It’s absolutely wrong for us not to have the chance to express our views.”
On the same day, Mr Willetts did pay a visit to Highbury College in Cosham to view the recently built college campus, which passed off without incident.
College Principal Stella Mbubaegbu said: “This visit was a great opportunity for MrWilletts to see our new campus buildings and was in the diary long before the new government took office. There was never any suggestion that the visit would involve discussions about student funding.”
A number of ministerial visits have been cancelled recently due to fears of student unrest across the UK.
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