Students from the University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin and local sixth form colleges and secondary schools today took part in a protest outside Cambridge Train station.

The protestors convened at 7.30am outside the entrance of the station in the hope of lobbying Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge, to vote against the coalition government’s proposals to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). Mr Huppert, however, never arrived.

Currently sixth form students from the poorest households are eligible to a £10 - £30 weekly allowance to encourage them to stay in higher education.

Under the government’s proposals this allowance will be stopped and has already been closed to new applicants. The vote on the proposals occurs this afternoon in Parliament and is widely predicted to be voted through.

Based on Mr Huppert’s tweeting record, the students predicted he would be boarding a train around 7.45am. But, to the dismay of the protestors, Mr Huppert did not turn up at the station.

In a statement Mr Huppert said, “I stayed in London because we were voting late last night on Fixed Term Parliaments, and I had an early start today".

Julian Huppert stayed in London today to vote in favour of scrapping the EMA.

Approximately 30 protestors convened with banners and chanted phrases such as “No Ifs, No Buts, No Education Cuts.” Some of the activists were also wearing Julian Huppert masks.

Transport police were present and ensured that the protestors did not enter the station itself. They also attempted to make the students move away from the entrance area, however the protestors refused.

Ashley Walsh, Cambridge University Labour Club Chair, took part in the protest and told Varsity, “It’s up to us to tell Julian Huppert that the public opinion is against cutting EMA.

“Given that the Coalition’s alternative to EMA is only ten percent of the size of EMA…we need to show him that it is likely to harm social mobility.”

Another protester added, “I don’t believe the protest will make any difference. I believe the vote will go through but I feel we have to pressure parliament in many different ways.

“This isn’t just about EMA, it’s about putting the government under as much pressure as possible. We may not win on EMA but continuing the pressure will affect the way different cuts come in the future.”

Mr Huppert rebelled against the Liberal Democrats in December when he voted against the coalition government’s tuition fee proposals. Given this, the students may be hopeful that Mr Huppert will rebel again this afternoon.