Wes Streeting for National President

Wes Streeting has been elected as NUS National President for 2008/9, with one of the largest victories for a non-incumbant for some time.

Wes was elected in the fourth round with 496 votes out of 962. Ciarán Norris came second with 376 votes in the final round.

The press release from NUS is reproduced below.

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WES STREETING WINS CONVINCING VICTORY IN NUS ELECTION

Wednesday 2 April 2008
Wes Streeting was elected as the National Union of Students’ new National President at the organisation’s Annual Conference today, with delegates giving him a clear mandate to fight more effectively for students’ rights in the run up to the 2009 review of higher education funding.

Streeting, who is the current NUS Vice President for Education, beat nearest rival Ciaran Norris by 120 votes in the last round. He also saw proposals by the current NUS leadership on higher education funding passed by an overwhelming majority - meaning that the union can now throw off the shackles of its previous refusal to engage constrictively on tuition fees.

Following his election, Wes Streeting said:

“In an uncertain time for further and higher education, students can be certain of one thing: that I will be relentless in pressing home our fight to defend and extend their rights. From challenging the disastrous market in fees and student finance, to ensuring an education system that is accessible for all, the scale of my victory provides a strong mandate from our membership for an NUS focused on changing students’ lives for the better.

“NUS is changing almost as rapidly as the student population. I will lead a national union that fights for the rights of all its members as NUS’ campaigner-in-chief. We know that part-time, mature, postgraduate and international students can all too easily fall under the radar, which is why I will put them at the forefront of my agenda for a representative and relevant NUS.

“I want to pay tribute to the bold and courageous leadership of my predecessor Gemma Tumelty. Thanks to her, I inherit a stronger National Union and a momentum for further renewal of NUS that will continue to gather pace in the weeks and months ahead.”

As the election draws closer, incoming and re-elected student officers are lining up to support Wes Streeting for NUS National President. More than 25 officers for 2008-9 have already pledged their support for Wes’ campaign.

Wes says: “I’m really grateful for the support that I’ve had from student officers across the country. In many ways, this election matters more for those officers who will be wanting to work and win with NUS next year. It’s a crucial year for the student movement as we approach the 2009 review of fees. I’m the candidate with the experience and expertise to lead NUS into that review and win.”

In Wes’ Extended Manifesto, Helen Gibson, President-elect of Hull University Union says: “Wes is one hell of a campaigner and is 100% committed to everything he does. His record as VP Education and his dedication to the student movement is precisely why I’d like to be working with Wes as our National President next year and why you should vote for him.”

Rob Pinfold, General Secretary-elect of the University of Manchester Students’ Union says: “Students don’t just want an NUS with good governance, they want a strong, campaigning union that involves them and wins with them. There’s no doubt in my mind that Wes is the only candidate that can deliver that kind of union: effective, relevant and successful.”

Those supporting Wes include:

Danny Adilypour, Education Officer-elect, Leeds University Union
Alice Bouquet, re-elected Activities President, UWE Students’ Union
Rob Boardman, President-elect, Man Met Union
Guy Bromley, VP Academic Affairs-elect, Edinburgh University Students’ Association
Tom Christian, President-elect, Kent Union
Rob Damiao, Community Officer-elect, Leeds University Union
Helen Gibson, President-elect, Hull University Union
David Goss, President-elect, Loughborough Students’ Union
Dannie Grufferty, President-elect, Liverpool Guild of Students
Naomi Hunter, VP Societies & Activities-elect, Edinburgh University Students’ Association
Darren Jones, President-elect, University of Plymouth Students’ Union
Hollie Jones, VP Welfare-elect, University of Birmingham Guild of Students
Jen Larbie, President-elect, University of Birmingham Guild of Students
Hannah Lazell, VP Democracy-elect, University of Birmingham Guild of Students
Tom Marley, VP Education & Access-elect, University of Birmingham Guild of Students
Nicole McCaffery, Depute President-elect, University of Strathclyde Students’ Association
Jessica Parker, Activities Officer-elect, Leeds University Union
Dom Passfield, re-elected President, UWE Students’ Union
Jay Patel, re-elected President, Union of Brunel Students
Raj Patel, re-elected VP Services & Marketed, Union of Brunel Students
Michael Payne, President-elect, Lancaster University Students’ Union
Rob Pinfold, General Secretary-elect, University of Manchester Students’ Union
Lily Priggs, re-elected Sports President, UWE Students’ Union
Emily Sarah Rowe, VP Representation-elect, KCL Students’ Union
David Saxton, VP Education & Welfare-elect, Man Met Students’ Union
Dan Sheldon, Communications Officer-elect, LSE Students’ Union
Tobin Webb, re-elected President, University of Bristol Union
Kayleigh Wilson, President-elect, Newcastle College Students’ Union

To add your name, e-mail wes@wes4pres.org.uk.

Earlier this week, Gemma Tumelty and I led a ‘Great Higher Education Funding Debate’ at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster. Bringing together 160 student officers and representatives with leading politicians, academics, think tanks and journalists, we examined the impact of top-up fees so far and the future funding debate ahead.

Below, I reproduce a comment piece I wrote for the left wing think tank Compass. It is the first in a series of comments I will be writing about the funding debate taking place at conference. This one centres on what our policy agenda should be for the 2009 review. The seven principles I outline below can be found in amendment 506a in the funding debate at Annual Conference.

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Variable Fees: New Labour’s Worst Domestic Policy Mistake, argues Wes Streeting

(first published on Monday 18th February by Compass. See original article) 

Addressing a conference of student leaders last summer, Neal Lawson described variable tuition fees as ‘New Labour’s worst domestic policy mistake’ and he was right. For the past decade, Labour’s approach to student finance has been muddled, contrary to the Government’s stated aim of widening participation and confusing to the millions of full-time undergraduate students who’ve encountered one of the three systems that have been in operation in England alone during the past eleven years.

Equity and sustainability must be the key tests that apply to any funding system; on both counts the current system is a failure. While the market in fees is virtually non-existent so long as fees are capped at £3,000, let us imagine for a moment that the regime is taken to its logical conclusion: that the cap has been increased or lifted altogether. Within the cut-throat market of UK HE Plc. there would be big winners in the form of ancient and redbrick universities, able to price themselves at the top end of the market, and big losers in the form of modern universities and small and specialist colleges, struggling to compete. Labour Ministers should baulk at the prospect that, further down the line, spending per student could be greater in those institutions with the worst records on widening access and significantly lower in those institutions that are most successful in widening participation.

We have seen the futility of the market at work for two years now within the student support system. Rather than providing market incentives for students from working class backgrounds to apply to universities with the worst records at widening participation, the complexity of the system of bursaries, scholarships, grants and loans available has meant that they have had little impact on applicants’ choices and thousands of students are unaware of their entitlements.

With a few notable exceptions, it is widely accepted that the introduction of upfront tuition fees were the Achilles’ heel of Blair’s first botched attempt to reform higher education. As we approach the next General Election and the forthcoming review of the ‘top-up fee’ system in 2009, it is time for Labour to accept that variable fees are the Achilles’ heel of Blair’s second botched attempt and at the same time seize the opportunity that exists for a real debate about what kind of higher education system we want and how it should be funded.

I believe there are seven principles that should lie at the heart of the next reforms to student finance and funding following the 2009 review:

1) The expansion of higher education is necessary to ensure social justice and economic prosperity and must be funded accordingly. Labour was right to set the 50% target. The diversity of our higher education system is one of its greatest strengths and the entire sector must be funded fairly.

2) Higher education is a public good and the state contribution must rise to reflect this. The UK still lags behind other OECD countries in terms of the amount of public funding directed towards higher education. The Government should commit to increasing that contribution to match the OECD average.

3) Where graduates are to make a contribution to the cost of their tuition it should be based on earnings, not prices. ‘Why should the dustman pay for the doctor?’ asked those who justified the introduction of fees ten years ago. If we are to have a graduate contribution, I ask ‘why should graduates working in the public sector pay the same as someone who’s cashed in their degree to work in the private sector?’

4) Student support should be based on what they need, not where they study. The Government should abandon the notion that variable bursaries encourage access to top universities and instead ensure that students struggling financially receive the support they need, wherever they study.

5) There should be a structured business contribution to the costs of higher education. Business benefits enormously from higher education and must pay its fair share, not through tied funding that allows big business to impinge on academic freedom, but a structured contribution through the taxation system.

6) Upfront fees for part-time students should be abolished and financial support for part-time students should be equivalent to that offered to full-time students. Part-time students have been largely forgotten by the Government during the last 10 years, yet are often the very people that Labour wants to attract to university. It’s time to end upfront fees altogether and put in place a student support system that reaches those who need it most.

7) There should be a further review of postgraduate students support and the case for regulation of postgrad and international fees. Labour must ensure fair access to postgraduate opportunities and should seriously consider the regulation of postgraduate and international fees to ensure that students are paying a fair price and that the UK remains attractive to the international students who enrich our campuses and our country but are all to often treated as ‘cash cows’ by universities.

Some of Labour’s worst mistakes during the past decade have occurred when the Government has led without listening. It’s not too late for Labour to put in place a bold, radical and socially progressive model for higher education funding, but it will require ministers to enter the 2009 review with a genuine commitment to asking the big questions and taking on board answers they have so far been unwilling to hear.

Wes Streeting’s Extended Manifesto and Welsh Manifesto are now online and available for you to download.

The Extended Manifesto sets out Wes’ ideas in more detail, following the four key areas set out in his official manifesto published by NUS: ‘Fighting for a Fairer Funding System’, ‘Developing Strong, Campaign Unions’, ‘For a Representative and Relevant NUS’ and ‘Defending Students’ Rights as Citizens’.

Wes has also published his official manifesto in the medium of Welsh.

Wes says: “Today I’m setting out in greater detail my ideas for a different kind of NUS: one that’s focused on campaigning and winning. These ideas - many of which have come from the people I have spoken to in recent months - are a realistic plan of action: a to do list, not just a wish list. I am standing with an unrivalled amount of experience and a strong track record of delivery. It’s easy to make promises, but it’s results that matter and my record as a campaigner for students’ rights is one I am proud of.”

“If you’re heading to Annual Conference, why not e-mail the link to the rest of your delegation or print off a couple of copies to read on the journey?”

DOWNLOAD EXTENDED MANIFESTO

DOWNLOAD WELSH MANIFESTO

Today I publish my extended manifesto for National President. It sets out in more detail than allowed by the 2-sided official manifesto published by NUS the themes, policies and campaigns I would deliver as National President. It expands on the four areas outlined in my original manifesto, but with added content and ideas - many of which have come from the people I have spoken to about NUS and about my campaign during the past couple of months.

I am standing as the candidate with the greatest experience of fighting - and winning - for students and as the candidate with the best knowledge of the further and higher education sectors; the candidate who will be able to deliver from day 1.

This term, although running for election, I have been continuing to deliver in my current role as VP Education. I’ve published a new Higher Education handbook for students’ unions, re-launched the anonymous marking campaign, run a national feedback amnesty, led a Great Higher Education Funding Debate, launched a new series of Education Information briefings for student reps, led a campaign to get unspent bursary funding into students pockets, taken part in a number of students’ union debates and conferences and continued to bang the drum for wide ranging reforms to NUS’ governance.

I am proud of my record as VP Education and believe it stands me in good stead to be an effective National President. With less than a fortnight to go until the election, I will be focusing on some key areas of my manifesto and setting out my stall as the candidate who is best equipped to lead our movement into the significant battles ahead.

Let me know what you think of the extended manifesto!

Wes

wes@wes4pres.org.uk

The Order Paper (agenda) and Final Motions Document for NUS Annual Conference are now online. These outline timings for the main conference sessions as well as the motions and amendments we will be discussing.

CD15 - Order Paper

CD16 - Final Motions Document

One of the key planks of my manifesto centres around making NUS - and the student movement at large - more representative and relevant to our increasingly diverse membership.

The NUS Liberation Campaigns, and more importantly liberation groups in colleges and campuses up and down the UK, do an outstanding job at ensuring that students from communities at the forefront of discrimination and prejudice are well represented and well equipped to facing those challenges head on. Just look at the latest initiative from the Disabled Students’ Campaign - ‘A Day in the Life’, highlighting the real life experiences of disabled students and how many and varied they are.

There are groups that remain consistently under-represented however: part-time students, mature students, international students and postgraduates. Although provision exists for these students within NUS’ structures they are relatively under-resourced, but absolutely vital if NUS and students’ unions are going to have any credibility moving forward. I am pleased that the NUS Governance Review goes some way to addressing these problems, creating a full-time international students’ officer and dedicated representation for part-time and mature students on the new Senate.

Much more needs to be done and I will be outlining some more of my ideas in the run-up to Annual Conference, but for now I just wanted to highlight a speech I delivered to the iGraduate Conference in Edinburgh last Friday. It focuses on the need for a responsive HE sector, but specifically examines the challenges facing international students.

You can read the speech here.

Let me know what you think!

Wes

wes@wes4pres.org.uk

Today the WES4PRES campaign publishes the names of more than 200 student officers who are supporting Wes’ campaign for NUS National President.

They include officers from FE and HE, every region and nation of the UK and students from a range of backgrounds and institutions.

You can view the full list online.

Wes says: “I’m so grateful to all those who’ve supported the campaign so far. If you’d like to get more actively involved in my campaign just drop me an e-mail on wes@wes4pres.org.uk.”

“It’s not too late to feed into my manifesto. Feel free to get in touch with your ideas and suggestions and I’ll take them on board.”

With sabbatical elections currently taking place across the country I got to thinking about how NUS runs its elections process. It’s something I talked to people up and down the country about in January and, more recently, at a number of NUS events.

One of the most accurate criticisms I’ve heard about NUS is that too often it fails to practice what it preaches, quick to finger wag with ‘best practice’ aimed at students’ unions but slow to act to get its own house in order. This is particularly true when it comes to how NUS conducts its elections.

We encourage students’ unions to publicise elections well in advance: encouraging as many people to stand for election as possible, explaining how to stand and when to get your forms in, publishing opportunity profiles for the positions available and ensuring that rules are well known and create a level playing field for all candidates.

Aside from a section in the NUS Democracy Guide sent out to students’ unions in the summer and a mealy-mouthed section in the formal Notice of Conference (known as Conference Document 1 or CD1) buried away on Officeronline no one could really claim that we ‘publicise’ elections. Nor do we publish opportunity profiles, explain the contractual terms and conditions or have anything like a set of rules that creates a level playing field for all candidates.

It’s not just the nominations process that can be intimidating and off-putting. NUS elections have no spending limits or rules surrounding conduct. This means that those with more money available have an advantage because they have the resources to send out mailings, produce flyers and gimmicks for the conference itself and if they’re in a political group with lots of experience or have good mates on the NEC they will have lots of pearls of wisdom handed down so that they have the cutting edge over other candidates.

A section has now gone up on Officeronline with some information about the elections, but much more needs to be done. In my submission to the NUS Governance Review I set out what I believe to be the strong case for reform of our election conduct and rules.

As National President, I would work with the new Elections Committee to transform the way we conduct elections. There are difficulties around how election expenditure could be effectively monitored and capped without candidates exploiting the rules to get their opponents disqualified. Nonetheless I would look seriously at placing greater financial restrictions on elections including a cap on expenditure because I believe that finance should never be a barrier to participating in our democracy.

There are also things I think we could do to ‘level up’ the playing field for candidates, including:

• An elections microsite containing information about how and when to stand for election, opportunity profiles and the relevant forms and nominations templates available for download
• An opportunity for every candidate to have their own election page online, containing their manifesto, biog., blog and an opportunity to put up an audio or video address
• An opportunity for every candidate to have access to an ‘e-mailing’ to every conference delegate
• A guide to campaigning in NUS elections, giving some basic advice and an idea of what to expect
• Working with the Disabled Students’ Campaign to ensure that every candidate can produce materials and information that is accessible to every delegate without incurring financial costs
• Hustings for every full time position - not just National President - so that delegates get to put every candidate through their paces

Much of this would cost little on the part of NUS, but would make a huge difference to engaging both delegates and candidates in a more healthy, open and accessible debate.

On accessibility: in spite of a (really excellent) guide by the Disabled Students’ Committee, I have fallen foul of their guidelines for an accessible manifesto, for which I unreservedly apologise. I asked someone to volunteer to quark it up for me and because of regional conferences I did not have time to make changes to the design before the close of nominations. I will do my best to make sure that I comply with the remaining guidelines.

Let me know what you think and if you have any further ideas about how we could make NUS elections fairer.

Wes
wes@wes4pres.org.uk  

Full details of all the motions and amendments to NUS Annual Conference are now online. These will be sent to the drafting commissions (commonly known as compositing) where they will be organised and, in same cases, merged together, to form the final motions document.

Wes will be attending the Education Commission alongside VP Further Education Beth Walker. If your union has submitted text you will need to attend the drafting commission or arrange for someone to attend on your behalf as a proxy. Please contact Wes on wes.streeting@nus.org.uk if you are unsure about how the process works or if you would like help on the day compositing your motions. Wes will be working on higher education issues and Beth will be working on further education issues submitted.

There will be members of the NUS Steering Committee, as well as members of the NUS NEC, available on the day to help you if you’ve never been through this process before.