If students needed any reminder that the National Union of Students does not fight for their interests, its last minute withdrawal of support from November's free education demo, on the flimsiest and most cynical of pretexts, certainly provided it.
Despite and in defiance of NUS, ten thousand students marched for free education, sparking a wave of protests and direct actions at campuses across the UK and a mass demonstration and occupation against police violence at Warwick University. More actions are planned for this term, running up to the General Election.
NUS betraying student struggles is not new. Neither is left challenges inside NUS. Despite its long-term degeneration, NUS remains an important organisation with major reach and influence in the wider student movement, and the left has long tried to make use of the platform and networks it provides, with varying degrees of political clarity and success. This year a very strong group of candidates is beginning to come together from among activists heavily involved in last term's struggles.
The left-wing National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts network, which played the central role in November's demo and has drawn in many of the new activists thrown up, has initiated a left slate of candidates to stand for NUS President and the five Vice President positions.
Workers' Liberty member Beth Redmond from City & Islington College is standing for President, and RS21 member Barnaby Raine of Oxford University for Vice President (Union Development). Both are also standing for the part-time Block of 15 section of NUS National Executive. Independent socialist Hattie Craig, former Birmingham Guild of Students Vice President, is standing for VP (Higher Education).
For the VP (Society & Citizenship) position, NCAFC has said it will support left incumbent Piers Telemaque (former President at Bradford College), who is supporting the rest of the slate, if he makes a strong statement over NUS's betrayal of the free education demo. The campaign also hopes to back candidates for VP (Welfare) and VP (Further Education), creating a full slate.
The NUS leadership's candidate for President is likely to be Megan Dunn, the current VP (Higher Education) who was key to NUS withdrawing its support from the demo in November.
Our comrade Beth said:
"We are standing to champion demands about free education, living grants and student housing, as well as wider political questions like the General Election, migrants' rights, international solidarity and building links with workers' in struggle.
"We want to transform NUS and student unions into militant, political campaigning organisations, but also use this opportunity to build student struggle on campuses and on the streets. The campaign will make anti-capitalist, class-struggle arguments for a different student movement as part of the fight for a different society."
NUS conference takes place in Liverpool, 21-23 April. If you are going or would like to and want to help NCAFC and the left candidates in NUS, you can contact bethredmond93@gmail.com
