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Students are holding a sit-in at the University of Leicester’s main administration building to protest against the new chancellor elect.

Conservative politician David Willetts has been named the university’s new figurehead, but his appointment is unpopular with some students.

Mr Willetts' views on gay rights and his involvement in increasing the tuition fee from £3,000 to £9,000 a year, which happened while he was Minister of State for Universities and Science in David Cameron’s coalition government.

Since 10am on Monday morning a group of around 20 students have been camped in the corridor near to vice-chancellor Paul Boyle’s office, calling for the appointment to be reversed.

Further students are holding a protest outside the building.

Amy Wood, a third year geography student who is one of the organisers of the action, said: “It’s a peaceful protest and the main reason for it is we disagree with the appointment of David Willetts, the chancellor elect.

“There’s a lot of backlash on campus from staff and students about this.

“We’ve spoken to Paul Boyle about this and he’s said there’s not going to be a change. So we’re going to occupy the building until Willetts is encouraged to step down.”

The group has been entertaining itself with music and has also had visits from lecturers who have been holding lessons in the corridor on various topics.

A petition calling upon the University of Leicester to re-consider making former government minister David Willetts its chancellor has been signed more than 2,000 times.

Last month, on Friday, February 9, there was another protest on the campus about Mr Willetts’ new role, which he is set to take up in July.

The protesters are also angry about Mr Willetts’ views on same-sex marriage and comments he made in 2011 about feminism leading to greater class inequality.

A spokesman for the university said: “The university respects the right to freedom of speech and to protest within the law.

“There is a sit-in by students in a corridor of our Fielding Johnson Building.

“This has not affected business operations and the students met with the members of the senior management, including the vice-chancellor and the chief operating officer, to discuss issues raised by the protest.

“This meeting was in addition to the normal engagements with staff and students, and the vice-chancellor will continue to meet with University and College Union and Students’ Union members to maintain discussions and dialogue around their areas of concern.”