On 3 September, I was delighted to be able to jointly launch the priority campaign with National President, Wes Streeting. For both of us this topped our manifestos, and for both of us this has been an area of significant work over the Summer and into the first term. Any credible campaign needs to be based on evidence, and this is the logic behind the Broke & Broken report which critiques the current funding system outlining its flaws and problems, and also identifies how lifting the cap would worsen the inequalities that exist in the current system.

Speaking to students, and student officers following the launch, the feedback has been really positive, particularly around the way in which the report has managed to equip people with arguments around why the current system is so unfair. A lot of the data we used was exceptionally illuminating, and the earnings premium (for me as an arts graduate just £36,000) have been used quite a lot since. We are still encouraging feedback on the report, so if you have any thoughts please drop us an email to fairerfunding@nus.org.uk.

Throughout the party conference season, Wes and I had meetings with MPs and advisors from all parties, and having the report as a point of reference has made our arguments so much stronger. I’m pleased to say that the way in which we have approached the campaign this year has been received well from MPs across the political parties, but also by the media – this bodes well for the future. We are making significant strides in ensuring that the 2009 review into HE funding isn’t simply a question of ‘the cap – how high’ but a far-reaching review which will seriously consider complete alternatives to the funding compact for Higher Education.

However the launch of Broke and Broken is just the start, and now is the opportunity for Student Unions to also get involved in the campaign. We have outlined 5 November as the first national day of action on fees (which also ties into an international day of action on funding) and there has been a hive of activity from students' unions up and down the country with planned campaign ideas and actions. I’m going to attend the local action as well, but I’m looking forward to seeing the media coverage from events I can’t attend in person.

In the meantime, we are working on a credible alternative funding system altogether in consultation with the membership. We have some broad principals about the way in which this financial contribution should be collected, but we need to deliver the detail and this will be done in consultation with students' unions. It will take some time to get this right, but I look forward to working with you to deliver this, and then presenting it in early 2009. This will provide the platform upon which we will be taking our alternative to politicians, and hoping that they will support it as something that can be considered by the review and then in parliament. Finally, throughout the year I am really keen to attend any campaign action you have planned, whenever it is planned. The 5 November should really only be a start, and hopefully a bare minimum. It’s really important that not only is the national union making an issue of fees, but so are all students' unions and students, particularly with your university and home constituency MPs. We have a national lobby of Parliament planned for March, and good links with MPs will already help us in this process. Also, if you plan to talk about education funding at Union Councils, AGMs etc. then I’m more than happy to come along and outline the NUS position and take questions from students.

Here is some of the media coverage that followed the launch of Broke & Broken:

Guardian

BBC

Times Higher

Compass

University World News

UCU response

Russell Group response

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