I AM a mature student who has just started a degree and is surviving on student loans and a bit of savings. Shocked expressions on Charles and Camilla were splashed on many newspaper front pages last Friday.

Although I would not wish to condone such violent activity, the pictures do bring into sharp focus frustrated students’ messages that won’t go away.

When I was a child, maximum tax rates were 83 per cent with extra 15 per cent investment income surcharge on top for investment income of super-rich.

Now they pay a maximum of 50 per cent. This simply isn’t fair.

Why shouldn’t people pay at least 60 per cent on income over £150,000; 70 per cent over £250,000, plus personal National Insurance contributions on all their income?

Higher taxation on the wealthy is part of a fair and equitable society and would mean education cuts and rises in student fees wouldn’t need to happen. Scrapping upper limit on personal NIC alone would raise £9.1 billion a year.

This is simple protectionism of the wealthy; no wonder fury is rising.

Charles Everett, North Moor Estate, Huntington, York.