Bradford University students are keeping up protests about education cuts and tuition fee rises despite “half-getting” what they want from their vice-chancellor.

About 50 students took over the suite in the Richmond Building at 8pm on Monday before meeting one of the deputy vice-chancellors at 10.30am yesterday.

They were staging the protest as a way of getting vice-chancellor Professor Mark Cleary to condemn the Government’s proposed tuition fees rise and the cuts in Higher Education funding. Student spokesman Gemma Jackson said they decided on the occupation after a meeting with Prof Cleary when he refused to take sides.

But by lunchtime yesterday Prof Cleary had posted his views on the university’s website. He said: “I can fully understand the anxiety that students have for the costs that their brothers and sisters and other family members are likely to face if they wish to go to university in the future.

“I have been vociferous both within the institution and at national university meetings such as Universities UK about the nature and impact of the changes proposed.”

Miss Jackson said: “We’ve got half what we wanted but now we have to persuade the Government.”

Yesterday some of the students left the management suite to lobby at Bradford City Hall. Another protest has been planned for Centenary Square today at 1pm.

l The Yorkshire economy could lose more than £550 million if the Government pushes ahead with funding cuts to universities in the region, according to a report released today by the University and College Union (UCU) in a report which looks at the impact of proposed university cuts.