13–19 September

This is the start of party conference season – 3 long, long weeks...

• TUC Congress, www.tuc.org.uk Including an NUS reception with the teaching trade unions, Mr Blair’s ‘warmly’ received speech, the Endsleigh annual dinner, key debates on pensions, mtg for the first time with Sally Hunt General Secretary of the AUT, fringes on equality, working rights, and education. Also fitted in a management team meeting.
• NUS Management team away weekend – state of the union talks
• Visits Middlesex Uni / Roehampton

20–26 October

• Visit to Lampeter, for exec training.
• Liberal Democrats Conference, Another NUS and the teaching unions reception. Particuraly important with the support given by the Liberal Democrats in the campaign against Top up Fees
• Regional Officers meeting – Cheltenham (these last three days, although I was there for one)
• Endsleigh Board meeting
• University of Herts freshers Ball.
• Back to Brighton for Labour Party Conference, Sunday night was once again the NUS and teaching trade unions reception.

27–3 October

• Labour Party Conference. Lots and lots of fringes from ATL, NASUWT debating Charles Clarke, to the NUT debate around SATS, to SLAPPERS? Young mums www.ywca-gb.org.uk . Managed through various means to gain meeting with various Ministers including Ivan Lewis (because he forgot to mention us at our own reception), Stephen Twigg (ex NUS President) re the citizenship agenda, and crucially Mike Tomlinson, whose review due later this year will precede the biggest sae up in education in the last 60 years. I think we all felt that we learnt lots from the event. Incidentally contrary to scurrilous rumours I did not spend my evening dancing to ‘things can only get better’ at the Labour Students disco, I was in Eastbourne at the time, where we were staying (don’t ask), although I did get to speak at the campaign group rally on the Wednesday evening, alongside an incredible field including Mark Sewotka, Mark Seddon, Alice Mahon and Tony Benn, With entertainment provided by Billy Bragg.
• Recruitment for the new Director of Campaigns and Communications.
• University of Plymouth, Exmouth site march for the death of education, and creation of a two-tier education system. Really want to say congratulations and well done to Yankee and all his team for their hard work, great event.

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