The student left and NUS elections - what's going on?

13 February 2012

For the last two months Workers' Liberty students have participated, along with others from the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, in negotiations about a united left slate for the leading positions on NUS national executive (to be elected at NUS conference in Sheffield, 24-26 April), promoting the candidacy of Daniel Cooper.

Now that Dan has been elected ULU Vice President we are withdrawing that candidacy. We announced this at the NCAFC National Committee on 12 February.

Last year, the SWP and its allies excluded Workers' Liberty from the NUS left slate in a deeply sectarian fashion (see here and here). This year, however, these groups have been forced to negotiate seriously (and openly) by the strength of the NCAFC. This is a real step forward. Whatever the outcome of the negotiations, it should be a much stronger slate than last year.

Workers' Liberty will continue pushing for the strongest and most politically principled and developed left slate possible, to build a fighting challenge to the NUS leadership.

15 February 2012

On Monday 13 February we issued a statement welcoming progress in negotiations for a united left slate for the leadership positions on NUS NEC, and withdrawing the candidacy of our comrade Daniel Lemberger Cooper (because he has just been elected ULU Vice President).

In terms of welcoming progress, we spoke too soon. On Monday evening, at a meeting in London, a coalition of the same left groups who dominated this process last year (SWP, Counterfire, Socialist Action/Student Broad Left) agreed a list once again dominated by themselves.

This slate only included one person, Michael Chessum, who has been seriously involved in the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts. As a result, Michael walked out of the meeting and is standing for Vice President Higher Education outside the so-called "united left slate" (which is nothing of the sort).

We would make four points:

1. The NCAFC, the only democratic organisation involving large numbers of independent activists on the student left, and which has been central to the fightback against fees and cuts, has once again been treated with contempt.

2. The groups involved denounced our attempt to involve large numbers of NCAFC activists in this process through a debate at NCAFC conference. It is now clear that what we said at the time was right: that they did so in order to clear the way for themselves to dominate. (This also explains their over-the-top behaviour at NCAFC conference: they are obsessed with NUS elections.)

3. The proposed candidates are weak, representing primarily factional convenience.

4. For all their (incorrect) accusations that NCAFC and/or AWL do not take liberation seriously, the SWP, Counterfire and Socialist Action have agreed a list which is 5/6 male.

Workers' Liberty students are supporting Michael Chessum's campaign for Vice President Higher Education, and will enter discussions with other NCAFC and left-wing activists about the way forward. We still want a united left slate - but not at any cost. And Monday's meeting was a step away from unity.