UKIP's Michael Heaver has condemned the violence that marred student protests in London yesterday and urged the Government and students to take a look at the Party's manifesto promises on tuition fees.

The Young Independence Chairman said: "The riots we have seen in London and the wilful destruction of public and private property up and down the country is plainly out of order. The attack on the Cenotaph was beneath contempt.

"But I feel that we must have some sympathy for the cause of the students. There fees are being tripled, and if somebody tells a demonstrating student that they should use the ballot box, they can look straight back and say that they did. They voted for the Lib Dems and their promises which got them precisely nowhere," said Heaver.

"Basically, the problem now facing those who want to go to university was caused by the previous Labour Government which set an unrealistic target of 50% of school leavers going to university, then finding they couldn't keep up the grants system with this goal so they introduced fees.

"UKIP believes the introduction of tuition fees and loans has been a retrogressive step.

"Under it manifesto pledge – one that we, unlike the Lib Dems, would keep – UKIP will restore student grants in the form of Student Vouchers and Training Vouchers as academic ability must be the sole criteria when it comes to going to University.

"Of course this would mean a return to proper selection on merit in our secondary schools as well, allowing excellence to be accessible in every post code, not just for the rich," he went on.

"Alongside this, we believe in more investment in the manufacturing sector of the UK which would create further demand for apprenticeships and vocational courses which would be free for all. It's important to understand the vocational element as it is clear there are simply not enough graduate jobs to go around, with 70 applicants for every graduate vacancy that becomes available.

"UKIP wants to see a return to aspiration, not a predictable public boil over of student frustration."