20^th – 26^th March

• Endsleigh board in Cheltenham.
• Meeting with Justice for Colombia.
• Management team meeting re directorate.
• Meeting re Trade Union partnerships project.
• NUS Extra Working Group meeting.
• Student Union visit to Dartington College.
• Additional NEC meeting in order to discuss and agree the strategic plan that we have been working on for a number of months. It was a really productive meeting – for those who were there. Incredibly frustrating however, as it was very inquorate. This being days before NUS Annual Conference began, it seemed the vast majority of the NEC were more interested in getting their ‘face about’ than thinking about the long term future of the organisation. I could comment further on how this is quite typical of the NEC at its worst but hey.
• Spent Friday clearing the decks before NUS Conference.
• Left London on Saturday in a packed car for Blackpool!

27^th – 2^nd April ANNUAL CONFERENCE WEEK

·              As ever, what a week. It’s impossible for me to be able to blog about the experiences, feelings and raw emotions that always happen during this week. It is an absolute rollercoaster and particularly in the year you are leaving. Instead of trying to capture all those experiences I’m simply going to blog speeches I made (or didn’t get to make!)

·              Annual Conference Opening Remarks 2006

'Thank you Conference.

I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of the National Executive Committee, the staff of NUS and the Winter Gardens to formally welcome you to Blackpool and to NUS Annual Conference 2006.

I’m proud to stand here and formally open proceedings, reflecting on our work and looking forward to the future. But for me it’s also tinged with sadness as this is undoubtedly the last time I will stand before you all as National President of this Union and open our Conference.

Over the next three days we will debate a wide range of policy and campaign initiatives, elect a new National Executive Committee, and hear from passionate and committed speakers. Policy and officers that will lead and define your National Union for the next year in every aspect of our work.

Conference. This is your chance to direct your National Union, so get involved in debates, use your vote, take speeches, lobby others and crucially, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Conference floor can be a confusing place for first time delegates and old timers alike, so if your first instinct is to run and hide, please try to stick with it – the best way to understand what’s going on is to get involved. And remember, there are many sources of advice and assistance who are more than happy to help.

Before we move on with the business of this conference, I want to take the opportunity to look back on our work since July.

Of course we have continued to prioritise the campaign for a free and accessible education.  Mass participation based upon ability and aspiration rather than daddy’s bank balance or who he plays golf with means being honest about how it’s funded. Education benefits individuals; society and yes the economy, We’re told with boring repetition that graduates earn more, well that means we pay more – it’s called income tax.

Since fees were shamefully introduced we’ve seen debt rise, ‘non profitable’ courses forced to close, and students drop out or not even enter higher education because of debt.

This September fees go up, and sadly, applications are down. But it also brings the notion of marketisation in education. The variability of fees means students for the first time, will base their decisions in part or in whole not on the quality of the course or institution, not the environment, but how much debt they are willing to get into.

But lots of our members don’t understand the very notion of a free fair and funded education system, because their rights as learners and citizens have been continually eroded. But over the following days we will regroup as a National movement, debate our tactics and regalvanise our commitment to fight for a free education. We should be proud of what we have achieved already, but you as the next generation of Student Leaders need to take on the challenges and the continuing fight, but I’ve made sure you won’t be alone in that fight, this year we created the largest ever education coalition united to fight against the lifting of the cap and a return to an education system that’s funded at all levels by the state, we as a National movement are getting smarter with our campaigning and lobbying, drawing our resources together, creating powerful allies within the sector, as a pre-emptive strike back, and we’re being taken seriously, that’s why only weeks ago we succeeded in getting all the three higher education spokespeople onto the same platform for the first, at our parliamentary lobby. 

But we’re also too often simply branded as fee fighters, when in reality our work is much broader.

Participate – actions speaker louder than words, has been putting the case to Vice Chancellors and the Government that non-formal learning opportunities, such as clubs, societies and student union activity are vital to the whole student experience. We’ve concentrated on making them accessible to all, argued that they should be funded properly, and produced materials and guides to put student activities at the heart of our unions.

We’ve campaigned on a variety of issues, as diverse as our membership. This year has been a critical one for international students. We’ve been working hard building alliances to fight both visa renewal charges and the right to appeal. And we’ve succeeded in amending the Immigration and Nationality Bill so that students who have to appeal against refusals or variation of leave can now stay in the country.

NUS Scotland is continuing it’s fight to keep Scotland top up free, have successfully won free prescriptions for all students and has received major external funding to run a high profile and crucial anti-sectarianism campaign.

We’ve responded to the Youth Green Paper, fought and lobbied hard against the disgraceful implantation of top up fees onto PGCE courses, launched a major piece of work on student union governance in the light of the upcoming charities bill, re-prioritised the co-operative housing project, run the first ever national shag week, received the MORI report, the biggest ever piece of research on NUS and developed an aspirational strategic plan, we’ve re-launched our anonymous marking campaign, responded to the legal equalities review, successfully lobbied against the mental health bill, won the removal of VAT on condoms, actively supported Holocaust Memorial Day, given evidence to a variety of select committees, on issues as diverse as tax credits and Further Education. And I could go on. 

But of course it’s not all been about being proactive, sometimes we’ve had to react as well, and then it’s about making a choice. The devastating events of 7/7 left us as a movement with major challenges. Since then we’ve worked hard to break down fears and tensions on campus, whilst lobbying locally and nationally to ensure all groups in our society are protected and their voices heard.

Some reacted to the events of 7/7 by banning religious groups and societies on campus. We’ve consistently challenged those who take such action, because the right to free expression of religious, social and political views has to be a central protected role in our colleges.

Some reacted as the fascist BNP did, by using the events to raise their call for an all white Britain. I’m incredibly proud of students and their unions across the country who refused to buy into the messages of hate that some tried to promote as we united under the banner ‘against terrorism, against racism, against war’. Exposing the racist lies and standing up for freedom and justice for all.

And of course the National Union and the NEC have also been faced with a major challenge. You know just as I do that education in Britain is chronically under funded, it affects our buildings, our unions, our opportunities, and yes it affects our lecturers. I’d like to remind everyone in this room that lecturers pay has declined in real times by 40% over the last twenty years. That they have been repeatedly promised by government and their employers that they would receive fair pay and of course for us it’s vital they do, NUS of course is listening to our membership and share many of your concerns about the impact that a protracted industrial dispute will have on individual students work. We’ve been lobbying our union colleagues and have formally raised our complaints. Yet fundamentally and importantly we care about the future of education not just in the short, but the long term. Students have no interest in being taught by underpaid and demotivated staff. For those reasons we are standing united with the unions to ensure that, as the government promised, ‘at least a third’ of the new funding would be used on staff pay. Personally I’ve been lobbied by both sides in the dispute, I’ve met the employers and the unions, I’ve put pressure on both, demanding that a settlement is reached quickly, and whilst the unions are prepared to talk tomorrow, the employers are refusing to negotiate until the end of the month. This means students degrees are being unnecessary disrupted as a result of procrastination on the part of the employers. Now is the time to put the pressure on and get them back around the negotiation table, and individual students can and must play their role in this. Every student has the right to expect a high quality education system; it’s the responsibility of the management to ensure that is delivered. I may not like the analogy but some people say that when you pay for something you become a customer, and customers can expect certain standards for their money. If you aren’t getting what you pay for then you have a right to complain. Thousands are already, using the formal structures that we have collectively fought for and won, every complaint puts increasing pressure on the university to act, to tell the employers to get back to the table and to settle this dispute as promptly as possible. I’d like to take this opportunity to add my voice to that call. I don’t like the fact that university’s lobbied to be able to charge fees and now top up fees, I don’t like the fact that there is now a clear market in Higher Education and I certainly don’t like the view that some students see themselves as customers – but the reality is they have all happened. People here today should remember the history of our movement. When top up fees were being debated vice chancellors, employers and the government tried make the teaching unions turn their back on NUS and support the call for top up fees, it was argued they would benefit from the cash out of students pockets. But the lecturers unions refused to capitulate, they stood side by side with us, not because it was the easy thing to do but because it was the right thing to do. I’m proud to be a student unionist, I’m incredibly passionate about what I do, and that means I believe in collectivism, in democracy and in solidarity. That’s why I won’t let them divide us this time, that’s why I’ll continue to stand in defence of our whole education, doing the right thing, not the easy thing.

And let me now challenge every union and every individual who has taken a stance without consulting their students. Since the action began my colleagues and I have been invited to speak to dozens of open meetings to discuss and explain NUS’ position with students. One union has even held a cross campus referendum, And do you know what Conference in every single one of those situations students have consistently voted to stand side by side with the unions and place the blame squarely where it should lie – with the employers. So if you want to stand here and argue with me, when you’ve taken the position in a closed exec meeting or simply a sabbatical team then I ask you to think again and take a close look at how ‘representative’ of your student population you are being.

Finally on this contentious debate. Make no mistake the National Union is not going to be able to stop industrial action. I’m sure everyone in this room, believes in democracy – and the unions are following their democratically reached decision. But let me remind you the unions want to talk, it is the employers who are refusing so now is the time to unite and push them into keeping their promises and pay up. And think very carefully about whether by kicking our lecturers in the teeth are we also kicking ourselves in the teeth at our time when we need them more than ever to win our demands,

And of course we as a union have some big challenges ahead of us as well

And inarguably the biggest of those is funding our movement for the future. You all know the picture, failing commercial services, block grants being slashed by greedy vice chancellors, and a National Union that has cut back to the bone, reformed and prioritised till there is nothing left to cut.

This week we’ll present an ambitious strategic plan. We are looking forward to a positive and proactive future. We've laid down our ambitions to you. We want to create a stronger National Union. We want to create an activist rather than servicing strategy, reaching out to grass roots students, whilst providing stronger and more substantial one on one support to officers and their unions. We want to put more staff out on the front lines, working alongside you. We want to put more resources and support into our liberation campaigns. We want to do more research to guide our work, and give us serious lobbying tools. We want to fundamentally overhaul our web technology, providing interactive space for activists on the ground to share their interests and allow forums to collectively organise. We want to build a trade union partnerships department. We want to improve our communication strategy, we want to create new training routes for more than just officers and we want to secure our future for the long term.

It’s ambitious, it seemed impossible a year ago, when we were facing financial ruin and our very existence was uncertain. We’ve cut back and back and we’re finally in the black.  But frankly it isn’t good enough. We cannot stay as we are. We want to do more, and we know you are demanding we do more. That means big decisions, it means being serious about the future, and it means a new income stream. That’s the choice that this conference has to make. Do you want us to stagnate and eventually die? Or do you want us to grow, achieve and win more. Some people in this room will call me a sell-out but I know that if we are ever to achieve the kind of movement that we all collectively aspire too, then it’s time to take tough measures to fund it.

Now those you who know me, or at least my reputation will be thinking that I’ve missed something out in these opening remarks. Because of course what I really want to stand here and talk about is Further Education.

Over the last two years we’ve put more emphasis and invested more resource into F E than ever before, not because of tokenism or because it was time, but because it was the right thing to do, a stronger FE sector can only mean a stronger student movement for us all. And I want to say here and now for the record that those people who are sitting in this room who think that Further Education shouldn’t be a part of this National Union never mind a priority within it, that your wrong, misguided and foolish about what we stand for. And for those of you still determined to focus this union simply on picking over the bones of the top up fees debate your letting down the majority of the membership. And I’ll tell you why.

  This is the year of FE. And I for one feel incredibly strongly about this issue. We talk a lot in NUS about changing lives, lets be honest about where that happens. It happens in FE. Think about the demography of FE - second chance learners, vocational students, the very people for whom education matters more than anyone else - this matters to us, and it matters to me.

I was an officer at Sheffield College and I know directly how FE   transforms lives like mine for the best when it is an open, listening, adult community - creating challenges, listening to students, and building a culture of constant self improvement for itself, its staff and its students

Our research proves that the money going into FE representation- both directly and indirectly- is tiny. Universities have culture and cash and schools have legislation and parent power to make sure students are listened to. But what does FE have?

No wonder then, that in his review of FE Sir Andrew Foster called FE “the neglected middle child”. NUS played a substantial role in Sir Andrew Foster’s Review of Further Education.  We got out there and spoke to students, getting them to respond online, taking part in meetings and focus groups and making clear your sense of voicelessness over the destiny of your education.

When his report was issued, we were delighted. We think his recommendations on what he calls the ‘learner imperative’, that are threaded throughout his report, represent a real opportunity to substantiate a voice for this “neglected middle child”.

  I want thank the thousands of students that were involved with the Foster Review, some of you in this room will have been involved and will even have met Sir Andrew himself.  No doubt your vivid accounts of the culture of your colleges contributed positively to his Report.

I’d like to pay tribute to those NEC members who under the leadership of Ellie Russell who have learnt, lobbied and won with us, but to those who have continued the tokenism, to those that have paid the lip service and those who have damaged our efforts from the inside I say shame on you. Because you see Conference the real, serious work we’ve done has seen real results, for FE student representation.

Yesterday Ellie and I caught the first train out of Blackpool to attend the launch of the governments FE white paper, a white paper that resulted from Foster. When we returned several hours later, bleary eyed and exhausted we were also brimming with excitement, because the long hours, the meetings, the lobby’s and the behind the scenes plotting had finally paid off.

The White Paper says.

‘We will put learners in the driving seat in determining what is funded and how services are delivered’

It says as we argued that there will be a National Learner Panel so that students are involved in all key policy making decisions from strategies to funding.

It says as we argued that all colleges will have to develop and implement strategies for engaging and involving students.

It says as we argued that there will be training and support for student representatives – that’s course reps and student officers to you and me.

It says as we argued that they will extend NUS’ successful scheme of support for learner representatives.

It says as we argued that there should be support and a professional development qualification for SSLO’s so crucial in the success of FE student unions

It says as we argued that volunteering should be recognised and valued.

It says as we argued that learner reps must be able to impact on the whole college environment, that colleges must become more responsive and move away from a simple ‘tick box’ culture, that a student survey simply isn’t enough, that student committees and other representation models must be set up and run effectively so every student can have their voice heard.

Oh and yes like we’ve been consistently arguing they are going to raise the minimum number of student governors on every Single Corporation in this country to two!

And just to make my day they are going to inspect all of this too.

That’s what being serious about FE achieves. I’ll tell you what we’ve won –representation for the unrepresented, the very people whose lives can most be transformed through education. For 30 odd years people have been promising to put FE at the heart of this National Union - my challenge to my successors is to ensure that the next 30 years is different- our win in the white paper is an FE legacy to build upon, not squander.

Conference, it’s not been easy to get here and there’s still so much work to do……

Conference we must celebrate our successes

-                A single united movement

-                A movement that defends and promotes the rights of its members

-                A democratic movement. A mass movement. A diverse movement.

I hope the next three days will be about building that unity.

And whilst we are on the subject of unity, we often forget that not all of your NEC are elected here at this conference. I want to pass my congratulations onto four members of next years NEC who have already been elected – Alex Kemp, or Disabled Student Officer elect, Jamie McIndo, or President of NUS Wales, James Alexander, President of NUS Scotland and Kat Stark, or National Women’s Officer.

The Black Students Officer, LGBT Officers, International Students Officer, and Convenor of NUS-USI are still to be elected, plus of course, the eighteen positions up for grabs at this Conference.

Conference, we are here this week to make the decisions about the running of our union for the next year. Yes, we will discuss the finer point of education funding. Yes we’ll argue about reform, and yes, we will debate projects such as NUS Extra.

But Conference, there is one thing we must remember. NUS isn’t just about three days in Blackpool – our work is defined by the policies you pass this week, but your role doesn’t end when you cast your votes.  The NEC might set the priority campaigns but you are the ones who carry them out in your unions and on your campuses. For some of you, this is your first contact with NUS but don’t let it be your last.

Conference, never forget that when we work together, when we fight together and when we stick together, history shows that we win together.

I hope you enjoy Conference. I hope it inspires you to get involved and stay involved in our National Union.

Thank you’

Conference Closing Remarks

‘Thank you Conference

• Staff
• NUS
• Winter Gardens Thanks
• List Names

Conference, this is my last conference – I’m glad it’s been a good one with fiery debate.

We’ve had lots of debate, some contentious – some fairly noted on conference floor.

From Coke to sexual health, from anti-racism to reform, from education funding to accommodation.  And Conference, let’s be proud we’ve passed more today than ever before.

Of course we were decided on some issues.  But I’ll take you back to where we started. 

Our success – a single united student movement.  And Conference, let’s not forget that how you vote here today should of course matter less than what you do to achieve our common goals????  Let’s go out, let’s unite for the future and let’s campaign to win.

Can I pass my congratulations on to all members of next year’s NEC and of course in particularly to the next National President – it’s hard work – it can be nasty, but it’s exciting and I will always be there if you need me.

I’d like to say thank you to you all for the last three days and yes for the last nine years.

Conference don’t forget that NUS is not about 3 days in Blackpool – it’s about a united movement of 5.2 million students and that when we fight together, stand together and unite, history proves we can win together.

I now for the last time close this Annual Conference

Conference, I’m not going to say much more because of course I know that very shortly we’ll be moving into leaving speeches and I can say my piece there, but Conference I do want to say congratulations to you all for taking the bold step of voting for NUS extra.

It means a new income stream.

It means we can invest.

It means we can become the kind of student movement we all collectively aspire to.

Conference, I’d like to grant honorary life membership to all outgoing members of the NEC.’

Leaving Speech

‘First of all I want to say that the last few years of my life, have been the most difficult, frustrating and exhausting, but they’ve also been the most empowering, liberating and exhilarating.  As National President I’ve seen highs, lows and of course utter depression.  When anyone outside of this world asks me to describe my job, I always say it’s challenging, I’m not sure that’s enough, but it’s the closest I’ve ever got.

I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved particularly over these last two years.  I’ve stuck my neck out on the line when it mattered, and through sheer bloody mindedness, achieved major changes that 18 months ago where never dreamed possible.  It’s been difficult, I believe NUS had to at some stage hit it’s all time low to be able to move onwards ad upwards.  The necessary tough decisions that we’ve taken mean we’ve begun to create a union with the strong management, back up services, and now new income stream will allow this organisation to go out there and truly achieve it’s –potential, organising activist, supporting officers, building strong unions, fighting and winning change for students and their unions at every level. 

Whilst I’ve loved my years there are some things that I have to say I won’t miss.  I’m told that outside of NUS people have ‘weekends’, that they have the ability to hold down relationships, as they are not working every day and night of the week.  I’m looking forward to not existing on a diet of service station burger kings, Diet Coke, Marlborough lights and white wine.  I’m told that in other organisations when you make mistakes people work through the problems with you.  I’m told that you’re treated with respect and praised for your successes, rather than blogged about behind your back.  I’m told that you can truly be a party of a team, rather than a group of people.

There are so many memories I’ll take with me.  Picketing Miss World, occupying NUS HQ in defence of the Women’s Unit, being censured 11 times in one National Council – still as effective as ever, speaking at Glastonbury with Tony Benn, appearing on question time, leading a 400 strong torch lit demonstration along the suffragettes route, the President Hotel, the Student media Awards – well I don’t really remember that, the day I realized that Bill Rammell really was going to give me the money to sort out FE student representation, winning my election and of course proposing and winning the amendment that defeated sell out policy and led to NUS regaining it’s free education policy. 

When I ran for National President three years ago, I ran under the banner of a free fair and funded education system, it may have taken me two attempts to win, but now after 2 years as National President I’m delighted that yesterday’s VP Education got elected under that banner.  I’ve been fighting with labour Students about higher education student funding policy from the day I walked into the student movement, and I’m delighted that the message has finally got through - and I hope you all reject means-testing in the future  - bring back free education policy. Conference, I know you’ve heard much about it over the last three days, but the attacks on our education system are truly terrifying, marketisation is devastating.  There really hasn’t been a more important time to unite and fight, we cannot lose, and that’s going to mean real leadership over the next crucial years.  We’ve all got to be prepared that there will be pressures put on us all from external forces and yes from political parties that we should soften the message, de-prioritise the campaign.  After all it will be General Election time.  Well at times like that it’s tough, it’s tough to stand up and resist the pressure, It’s tough to keep your bigger broader political priorities separate from your role, we should all know that’s gong to happen, and we must all be ready to stand up and do the right thing, no compromise, no fudge, no career plan, because yes only a free fair and funded education system will do. 

I believe that I’ve made a real impact on NUS, and that I’ve achieved about and beyond what I set out to do, but what I’m undeniably proudest of is politically leading the organisation and committing, not in terms of lip service, but actually for the first time really committing us to Further Education.  I stand here today proud of that decision and that work that is delivering for the majority of our membership finally putting FE to the top of the National Unions agenda, taking the sector seriously and being taken seriously by the rest of the sector.  To have actually won in FE both in the short and long term, in a union where the 49 presidents before me have promised a lot and done nothing is no easy thing.  The work that I initiated has seen real dividends, real cash and real achievements.  Real live student representatives who are out fighting and winning for their students every day.  Nationally we are finally influencing and winning at every level.  The foundation has been laid for a real active FE movement, based on serious politics and solutions rather than tick boxing and sound bites.  But it wasn’t always so, for years NUS ignored FE, limited it’s time, resources and influence and it’s possible we could go back so easily.  Lots of people stand here and talk the talk about FE, but hardly any of them actually walk the walk.  And so my challenge here today for (President elect) and the rest of the NEC is you don’t have to pretend any more, you don’t have to understand every phrase in the bewildering world of FE but what you do have to do is empower and support those who do and those who are actually serious about doing it.  And that means that don’t you dare think that you can swan on in and claim the profile and the contacts of this FE campaign and Ellie Russell.  Respect her, empower her and learn from her just like a good leader should.  I know that I leave behind an empowered and emboldened FE sector that will hold you all to account for every decision you make and every action you take, every step of the way.

I want to talk about bullying and harassment.  You’ve heard lots about it no doubt from many in the organization, there will be spin from all different sides in the debate.  I have to say something, and I’m going to keep it brief, because believe me my anger on this issued can easily spin over and get out of control.  NUS is a political environment, we stand here and ask to lead you, you have every right to criticise us, to lobby us and to push us.  You don’t have the right to make our lives a living misery.  I’ve been disgusted by some of what I’ve seen or experienced in the organisation, I’m disgusted that the year I was first running for National President rumours and downright lies were spread across the country, questioning my sexual morals, and I’m appalled that some of that came from people who were apparently so committed to the women’s campaign, it was sexism that didn’t even bother to hide.  I’m disgusted when I see people forced out because of bullying, but I’m also disgusted about the way that some factions have tried to turn personal decisions into political point scoring.  You know what you are going to get when you put yourself up to lead this National Union, don’t use dirty tactics if it’s not for you.  And Conference, I wish I could stand here and tell you openly and honestly about the bullying and harassment that I experienced after last years Annual Conference.  I’d like to talk about the motives that saw me receiving threatening emails from around the world, about the fact that after my mobile number suddenly seemed to become public knowledge I received phone calls throughout the night from people who accused me of having blood on my hands, that I was worse than the Nazis, that the Daily Mail were given my home address and camped outside my front door for a Saturday.  I want to tell you about the huge amount of emotional stress the entire experience put me under that almost broke me, and let me tell you I don’t break very easily.  I want to tell you about the soul-destroying conversation I had with my grandma who couldn’t understand why I was being portrayed in such a way in her paper.  I want to stand here and talk to you about the way some situations are about politics not the issue they’re tagged on to.  There is so much I want to say, that I can’t, for a huge number of reasons and I’m just not sure I have enough courage right now, but the main reason is that I will always put the National Union first, and I’ll take the right option for NUS, not the right option for me.  If we are to culture where such behaviour is acceptable, we must also be honest about why and how.

Over the years I’ve listened to many leaving speeches, from the good to the bad, to the downright malicious, and there is always one element that consistently runs through – the thank you’s.  Now the thing is I’ve got a lot to say and on the basis I don’t want to bore you all senseless I’m going to keep my thank you’s short, after all I still have plenty of time to thank people individually, and many people I want to thank, you wouldn’t have a clue who they were as I have been hanging around for a while.

First of all I want to thank the entire staff team of NUS. Everything that we achieve either collectively or individually comes right back to the staff team that you see up there.  Every single one of you has impacted upon my time and success in office and without your hard work, dedication and passion, NUS would not be the organisation it is today, my thanks goes out to all of you and I wish you all the best for the future, I can’t explain how important you’ve all been to me.  I do want to mention a few particular individuals separately. 

Firstly Bruiser for always looking out for me, and looking after me, Tim I don’t believe I know anyone as generous with their time as you.

Andy, who I’m conscious must always be thinking ‘what is this place, what am I doing?’  You’ve taken great steps and I’ll enjoy watching yours and the organisation’s progression.

John Offord – researcher – the heart of the team – I’m glad we’ve finally achieved.

Liz, my press officer who has one of the hardest jobs in NUS, whose kindness and commitment is only beaten by her immense writing talent, and political nous.  Liz, I know you’ve got a great future ahead of you.

Jim Dickinson, for always providing drama and brilliance.  Jim I can’t say I’ve enjoyed every moment of our tempestuous working relationship, you’ve driven me up the wall at times, but you’ve always challenged me and delivered for me and the impact you’ve had on me as an individual is my biggest influence on leaving NUS and I thank you for that.  I hope I know you for a long time.

However, my biggest thank you is inarguably reserved for the person that has in every way run my life for the last two years, and that is my PA Claire Freeman.  Claire, we’ve given you more work and put you under more pressure than I know you thought possible two years ago, and you’ve risen to every challenge admirably, including putting up with my moans and groans on a regular basis.  I’m really going to miss working with you every day, and I’m going to miss the gossip and the giggles.  There have been times when you have been the only person in the organisation that I can truly trust and confide in, and you’ve become a great friend.  Thank you.

I want to thank all the NEC’s that I’ve been a part of over the last five years.  The NEC as a whole is incredibly frustrating and often unproductive, but as individuals I have yet to come across any member of it who isn’t on it for the right reason, because they want to change the lives of students for the better.  It’s a group that is always made up of incredible talent and I wish you all new and old the best.  I’ve got time to say my thank you’s to you all here in the near future, so now I want to thank just a few people from the past.

The first is Tom McGarry, former President of NUS Wales, who believed in me when no one, including myself, did and who still continues to believe in me, push me and drink with me.

Hannah Essex last year’s brilliant VP Education, who has tremendous strength of character, talent and passion.  Without Hannah last year by Christmas I may have fallen apart.  Hannah you’re a great friend, and I’ll love ya forever.

And I want to thank my management team from last year, James Lloyd and Martin Ings.  Now whilst my entire time in NUS has been challenging, last years was by far the most difficult, having to act up as senior manager, making big tough calls on our finances, do or die decisions.  I was always weary and frustrated, and at times I truly had had enough, but as a team we stuck together, worked together and got through it together, and so to my boys, I say thank you.

Outside of the NEC I want to thank Antonia Bance, who got me through two president’s election campaigns.  Antonia is nothing but a legend in her own right.  Incredibly talented, and generous.  I know you’ve got an amazing future ahead of you, and I hope I’ll be around to support you this time.

I want to thank everyone who has ever supported me in any election, it means more than I can say, especially when I won by only 1 vote first time round!  But there are two people in particular I want to mention.  You see last year when I stood I was overwhelmed by the amount of support that you all gave me, but it wasn’t always the case.  One year earlier I’d been struggling for nominations and support, and let’s be honest I won on a fluke.  But there were two HE Presidents who stuck their necks out and supported me from the beginning, only two of them mind, and so for that I want to thank Phil Rees former president of Glamorgan, and David Budd former President of Kent Uni, for being there when no one else was.

I don’t feel that I can stand here and not talk about the f word.  As someone who has been in and out of factions throughout my tie in the student movement, I am absolutely passionate about their right to exist; the contribution they have made to our campaigns and initiatives is undeniable.  People can sit in this conference and bitch and moan about their influence, but the reality is that history proves to us that the only way anything is won is when people unite to win them, that is why factions exist.  Yes Labour Students or ENS are factions but so were the Suffragettes.

However, some of us think that some factions inside this organisation have forgotten why they got involved in the first place, too tied up in the game, forgetting the true picture of why we’re here and what we stand for – to change the lives of students individually and collectively, and from that change the wider world.  I think in the chaos of NUS it’s worth us all stepping back and assessing how our behaviour as individuals or factions reflects that mission.  And on that point if people want to take a ‘line’ from outside the organisation or from others on the NEC then that is absolutely their right – but they should be honest about it when they stand for election, not pretend that ‘we don’t do that’.

But there is one other thing I want to say about factions.  There are increasing arguments put out that if you’ve not factionally aligned then you are not political.  How dare you accuse people with a record of activism of campaigning and of fighting as having no politics just because we don’t all want to follow your positions.  What is worse in my view is the developing rhetoric that because you are in a faction then you must have good politics.  Yet in my experience, I’ve met faction members who have little if any political nous or discourse, people who have one standard line and cannot debate or delve into any issue on anything other than a simplistic way – I certainly know that there are people sitting on that platform branded as non-political who have more politics in their little finger than some of those have in their entire bodies.  It’s time to be honest about that, all factions must acknowledge that, accept it and move on from the argument, because if you don’t you are doing a serious disservice to the ambitions of your own group.  Writing people off because they don’t want to take a line off you this conference or in general is a childish and churlish measure, you have two choices, you can either write them off or you can debate, discuss and challenge them and I know they will challenge you.  And I think you know which of those will lead to a more active politically engaged society.  Which after all is surely what we are all trying to create. 

Of course I want to talk about my future.  I cannot stand here and tell you where I’m hoping to go next as I haven’t signed on the dotted line just yet.  But I can assure you it’s going to be about leadership, about equality and yes Conference, it’s going to be about FE.  However, what I am telling you about is one of the things I’m going to be doing in my new ‘free time’.

Conference I’m going to get re-involved in my constituency Labour party.  All my politics, everything I’ve ever stood for whether that be internationalism, free education or Coca Cola have always, critically been based in the Labour movement, and there’s a bloody good reason for that.  I grew up in South Yorkshire, I saw my community literally destroyed around me with the repulsive actions of Margaret Thatcher.  I saw families lose their homes, livelihood and in too many cases, lives.  Memories don’t fade too easily where I’m from and the memories of mass unemployment, tax cuts for the richest, the poll tax, section 28, the whole scale, selling off of council housing, attacks on single mothers, the list could go on and on, certainly haven’t left me.

We, as a student movement, have big battles to face over the coming years, but I tell you that one threat is bigger than them all, the prospect that in less than four years we may see a Tory government elected.  Make no mistake, it may be a new face, a newer more liberal image, they may now talk about social justice, but judge it on history – a Tory government will always be a Tory government – and no spin will hide the fact that quite simply they don’t stand for what we stand for.  I’m no Blairite loyalist, just in case you hadn’t noticed, but I know the Labour party was formed by and for people like me and if you want my opinion, if you want to change something, then get involved and you fight to change it from the inside, rather than criticising from the outside.  I’m looking forward to playing my role in keeping the Tories out, and I hope many of you will join me.

Let me close on my vision for NUS.  Democratic, political.  A movement that is strong in the face of attack from our enemies, whilst strengthening our claim to be involving, democratic and mutual.  Run by students, for students, in the interests of students.  One that develops activists as well as officers.  One that organises around campaigns and representations, as well as servicing our members and our unions.

We talk a lot in NUS about how the student movement changes lives both individually and collectively, and of course we rightly concentrate on the collectively, but don’t underestimate what we do for individuals.  When I first got involved in NUS as a part-time women’s officer at Sheffield College, I would never have believed that I’d be standing up here today as National President.

Look at what this movement has done to and for me.  The student movement is responsible for making me who I am today, and I’m grateful.  And I want to think that anyone can come into contact with our movement and be transformed – imbued with our values of democracy, equality, collectivism, celebrating diversity, making a difference and bold enough; to initiate or resist change.  That has been my purpose.  And I hope it’s yours too.  I hope I’ve succeeded, I hope you will too. 

Good luck, keep fighting and I’ll be with you every step of the way.

For the last time – thank you. ‘

Free Education (against means testing)

‘Kat Fletcher National President and proud to stand here as a committed free educationalist in defence of our free education policy.  Conference let’s vote down this cynical attempt to re-introduce means-testing to NUS policy. 

If I had the time I’d talk to you about how we should be treated as adults not as dependants, about how means-testing discriminates against women, LGBT students, disabled students and women students.

But what I’m actually going to talk to you about is unity.  We must remain united for an education that is accessible to all.

Conference, I remember the last time that Labour Students succeeded in rolling back our education funding policy.  Conference, they told us then that our policy was unrealistic, no longer affordable, that our demands were unreasonable.

Conference, rolling back our policy paved the way for the government to abolish grants and introduce tuition fees while NUS weakened and divided failed to mount the campaign our members needed to defend our education.

In the year that top up fees are about to hit our campuses and with vice chancellors already lobbying higher fees, now is not the time for NUS to sell out it’s funding policy.

Vote against this cynical, dangerous amendment.  Vote for free education. ‘ 

Coke Anti-boycott

604 b – First Against – Kat Fletcher, NUS President

‘Conference,

I’m appalled at this deliberate attempt to confuse and polarize our debate –

• undermining the unity we had on Tuesday when Hernando spoke
• attempting to reduce the conflict in Colombia to an issue of fizzy drinks.

I’m a trade unionist and an internationalist – if I believed that Coca Cola was complicit in the murder of workers or students I’d not just boycott my Diet Coke, I’d campaign against it.

Conference, I base my politics in the labour movement and the overwhelming majority of trade unions in Colombia and the Columbian TUC – say no to boycott that’s my line

I hate passive campaigning:

• if it’s worth fighting for, fight for it.
• If it’s worth opposing, actually oppose it.

The idea that removing Coke from the shelves or bars of our unions will somehow stop the murders in Colombia instead of the real action in the previous amendment – action Colombians and their trade unions actually want – is contemptuous nonsense.

To convince trade unionists like Hernando or retiring students activists like me, you’ll have to do better than that.  So take your dodgy dossiers and vote against them.’

Ginger Representation

Kat Fletcher National President and former NUS women’s officer.

‘Conference,

I have not spent the last 9 years I the student movement campaigning for liberation, fighting for equality and defending student rights to leave this movement with a ginger students officer.

You may think this is a joke conference, you may vote for this conference because it’s a bit of a laugh and you think this is all a bit of a giggle.

But is 248 disabled people being killed in the last 10 years because of disablism funny?

Is a 23 year old man being stabbed to death just because he is gay a laugh?

Do you think it’s a giggle that race riots are caused every year because of the BNP?

And every 8 seconds a woman is beaten.  Laugh that one off conference.

Conference,

I am disgusted that this is even on the table to be discussed here at our Annual Conference.  This motion makes a mockery of our liberation campaigns.  If you think our already limited resources to a ginger representation is the priority of the body of students that we represent then you are wrong. 

You may think that ginger people are oppressed but do they face being estranged because of their sexuality?  Do they face 15% cut in their wages just because of their hair colour?  Are they branded ‘mentally retarded’ because of their skin colour?  And are they denied branded as unemployable because of their disability.

Conference, this motion may be ‘funny’ but what it does is take away from the real issues of oppression facing our liberation groups.  It may be ‘funny’ but opens the door taking away our much needed resources to campaigning.  Conference, it may be ‘funny’ but it is shameful. ‘

·              Obviously it’s worth saying that I chaired a lot of this year’s conference, which I totally loved.

·              Didn’t wake up on Friday until 5pm!

·              Spent Saturday and Sunday in Eastbourne at the TUC Youth Conference. I have to admit I was very jealous of other NEC members relaxing, however I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and think the value of NUS working more closely with the TUC and in particular its’ young members cannot be overestimated.

3^rd – 9^th April

·              Strategy intro meeting with David Bell, the new permanent secretary of the DfES. We discussed a wide range of areas but concentrated particularly upon the progress of the HE funding review and our involvement within it and the embedding of ‘Learner Voice’ in quality and self assessment in FE.

·              Very depressing conversation with my Bank Manager

·              Review meeting with the consultant who is supporting me in completing the National Directors Appraisal.

·              Tuesday was finally the official opening of NUS HQ at Centro 3. The reason for the delay was pressure of workload and finding a free slot in Tony Benn’s diary to enable him to play the role of official ribbon cutter! Having spent a long time thinking about who I wanted to open NUS HQ I couldn’t think of anyone more appropriate or perfect than Tony doing the honours and I was delighted when he agreed. He was on typical good form, including giving part of the (red) ribbon as the red flag to the Minister! I have to say that I knew some people were unhappy with Bill Rammell’s presence which I believe to be incredibly naïve or politically churlish. NUS must have a relationship with government to move parts of our agenda forward. Certainly Bill Rammell Minister for HE and lifelong learning, or Minister for FE as I like to think of him, has been incredibly important in driving our agenda for ‘learner voice’ and FE student representation forward. However, my overriding memory of the day will be Tony Benn and I’m so proud that he was the last speaker I ever brought to NUS.

·              Also spent a couple of hours this day in a photo shoot with the Times Higher. A clear indication that the lecturers strike is hotting up and may not be over for some time.

·              Management team meeting.

·              Launch of the QIA at the House of Commons. First formal duty as a board member.

·              Meeting with the Deputy General Secretary of UNISON re a variety of projects/sponsorships that UNISON are interested in as well as potential future jobs!

·              Attempted to attend North Herts College to present their staff team on embedding learner representation across the college. Sadly due to a venue change I was fruitlessly driving around Hertfordshire and missed the event!

·              Afternoon meeting with Rob Wye who is number 2 at the LSC re the creation of LSC ‘Learner Panels’ as outlined in the White Paper.

·              Friday night headed to the Open University Student Association in Milton Keynes. Gave an address on Saturday.

·              Headed from OUSA conference in Milton Keynes to NUSSL convention in Liverpool.

10^th-16^th April

·              NUSSL convention – NUSSL convention in many ways for me is something of a holiday! Love it. I’m very grateful to NUS Services though for allowing me to address the Convention after the gala dinner.

‘Good evening Convention.  I’m not going to take up too much of your time, as I know you are all waiting expectantly for the results of best bar none, but NUS Services have generously asked me to briefly address you. 

I have to say that after dinner speeches are not usually my forte; unless you count my occasional vodka fuelled rants at 3am and to be honest, I’d rather you didn’t.  That said this is an “after dinner” and given I’m off out into what other people call “the real world”, I thought I’d try out a few after dinner jokes on you. 

So, here goes. 

A student goes into their union bar and says to the bar staff, “Give me half a pint of Carling in a pint glass and fill the rest up with water”.  “That’s an unusual drink,” says the student staff.  “You’d have that if you’d got what I’ve got,” says the student.  “What’s that?” enquires the student staff.  “80p” says the student.

No?  Ok, try this.  “A ham and cheese sandwich walks into a union bar and the bar staff says ......... “Sorry we don’t serve food here”

(Someone from the audience calls “don’t give up your day job”). 

Did someone say, “don’t give up your day job?”  I have to – I know there’s been a Keep the Kat campaign, but my term of office is ending! 

Ok, seriously – the first thing to say is that as those of you who know my history will be more than aware, I didn’t get involved in the student movement because of commercial services. 

But I know they are intrinsic to our movement. 

I know that Unions have been able to deliver new services that really deliver for students because of the profits generated.  I know that we wouldn’t have the strong and active movement that we have today without the beer deal and the meal deal.  And we’ll continue to ensure we generate the much needed resource to allow us to achieve our collective goals for an ambitious, proactive campaigning movement.

Secondly, I know that our values run deep in the way we run services.  Being ethical and environmental is one thing – a vitally important thing but other values, being student led for example – still having services, with a huge turnover whose priorities are controlled by students is a precious gift that we must never give away.

And thirdly, because providing safe spaces in which people feel able to socialise together, learn together and be together is still as important as ever.

So, to the future.  NUS Extra.  I have to say that two years ago I was sceptical, but I’m nothing if not a pragmatist, and I’m proud to stand here and say that I played my part in delivering a new product, a product that will not only help students individually but help our entire movement collectively.  It’s a bold step, and I know that there is much work to be done, but with NUS and NUS Services working together, I know that we can work through the issues and deliver for students the movement they need and deserve. 

It would be impossible for me to stand here and not albeit briefly mention Coca Cola.

As I said in my leaving speech up in Blackpool, I am looking forward to a diet that’s not based on Marlboro lights, white wine, service station burger kings and ….. yes ….. Diet Coke.

My addiction to Diet Coke is well known in the movement and as such I’m convinced by my position on the debate.  Not because I like Coke, nor because I was hugely worried about the financial impact a boycott would have – although both are true.

No, my view on Coca Cola was always based on the politics of the situation.  And look, whatever side of that debate you are on, that debate in Blackpool last month is exactly what our movement is all about.

We are passionate about what we do, about our role and our impact.  We punch much higher than our weight.  And whatever you think, the fact that a student can prioritise the discussion in their own union, and then prioritise the debate at NUS’ Annual Conference, is something that we must never lose sight of.

Because the fact that we can have the debate always has to be more important than the outcome, and that is because this movement is political, democratic, student led and student run.  No one else – not TUCO, not northern services, no one else would ever have such a serious honest political discussion – and I leave having won – not railroaded or suppressed – but won that debate proud as punch.

Finally before I hand over to Joe, I want to thank everyone who I have worked with in NUS Services over the last two years.  I’ve been hugely impressed by the dedication and professionalism of all the staff and volunteers who work for our company.

There are potentially so many people to thank, but in particular I want to take the opportunity to pay tribute to Ian King.  I want to say formally here and now thank you to Ian for stepping into the brink last years as NUS National Director.  It was a difficult time.

Then, and now, Ian has been a constant source of advice, a source of unbelievable knowledge, and has been not only a great rock and mentor for me but also a great friend and confidante.  To say that we have agreed on everything would be an overstatement – but to say that I couldn’t have achieved what I have without him, would be an understatement.  So thank you again.

Finally, I want to wish you all luck and good health in the months and years to come.  Some of you are of course sticking around to help create an even better student movement, and good luck with that.

Others of you are off into the real world … and I just want to say, see you there, and mine’s a large white wine.

Thank you and please welcome your company chair to the stage.’ 

·              Had to dash off early to deal with a family matter.

·              Thursday headed to my first QIA board meeting in Coventry.

·              Friday (whilst everyone else enjoyed the bank holiday) I headed down to Torquay to NUT Annual Conference. I spent a few days there watching the debates and liaising with contacts. I’ve attended numerous Trade Union Conferences – my comment on the NUT is that it’s the closest to NUS that I’ve seen. Read into that whatever you like, dependent on your position and politics.

17^th – 23^rd April

·              Headed back from Torquay.

·              On Tuesday I started work at UNISON! They have given me the opportunity to join their Education Workforce Unit dealing with Children’s Services and relevant workforce issues. I’ll be doing this until at least July on a 2 days a week basis using up the annual leave that I’ve never used! I’m really delighted to be given the opportunity not only because it will get my brain thinking about new policy, initiatives and member needs, but also because it starts properly the process of ‘moving on’ from NUS.

·              Management team meeting.

·              Attended an initial meeting investigating the possibility of relaunching the Network for Women leaders – the result – yes we are. Thoroughly refreshing to be back in a room full of passionate women.

·              Attended NUSSL’s annual parliamentary event.

·              Headed to Northern Ireland – Fermanagh to be precise for the annual NUS-USI Conference. Totally different affair from NUS annual! Congratulations to Colleen, this years President of Ulster University on being elected Convenor. Also worth saying at this point that I attended this conference with Gemma. I feel very strongly about handover and began with Gemma the week after NUS Conference. This event and others that I will write about in blogs are also part of the handover process.

·              Took Saturday off.

·              Spent Sunday at AOC Clerks Conference.

24^th- 30^th April

·              Meeting re the industrial action. These are happening on an internal basis on a really regular basis, probably at least 1 a day at all sorts of funny times and locations in order to bring everyone together. I am more than aware of the great concerns of individual students, their families and their unions on the impact of the dispute and NUS is using it’s unique position to do everything we can to minimise the impact on students. You should all be now receiving regular updates from NUS on what is going on so I won’t repeat it here. If you’re not get in touch and we will add you to the list.

·              2 days at UNISON

·              Management team meeting.

·              One on one meeting with Sally Hunt, General Secretary of the AUT at Congress House – in order to centre putting pressure on the AUT in particular over their tactics.

·              Meeting re industrial action with Trade Union representatives.

·              Debate on Radio 4 re the industrial action.

·              Meeting with NATFHE re action.

·              Phone conversation with CEO of UCEA re action.

·              Meeting with Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists).

·              FE team meeting.

·              Meeting with the 1994 group of Universities.

·              AOC bilateral.

·              Attended emergency Executive meeting of the Sheffield College Students’ Union at 9.30am on Saturday morning  - aaagh.

1^st – 7^th May

·              Bank Holiday (Yeah)

·              UNISON

·              NUSSL board meeting in Macclesfield (plus end of year dinner – sob sob)

·              This week I conducted the meeting stage of the National Directors Appraisal.

·              Headed from Macclesfield to the Forest of Arden, where Gemma and I went for a two day intense handover session. We chatted through a huge amount and also spent some time on ‘how it feels’ I think a very productive two days – even if we were trapped in the middle of a golf course.

8^th – 14^th May

·              NEC meeting – my last one (fingers crossed) and a frustrating, cringe-worthy and often irrelevant as my first. One element of my job that I definitely won’t miss.

·              Repeated industrial action meetings internal and external, presswork, liaison with appropriate outside organisations such as graduate employers, the home office etc.

·              UNISON

·              Led the delegates to AUT council (the equivalent of our Annual Conference) in Scarborough. We met with Sally and others in her team repeating our demands to change tactics and moderate impact on students. Also raised and began to debate questions over concerns about quality and the value of students’ degrees if they are not based on traditional assessment mechanisms.  For the record I say that anyone who thinks my job is easy, or anyone who feels they are under pressure I urge you to try and put yourself in my place at the moment. I am increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress on spending every moment and taking every opportunity to put pressure on all sides to end the dispute. Yet through all this I’m stuck totally in the middle – damned if I do, damned if I don’t. Once again only the employers can end this – get your students to act now – complain to the institution.

·              Got back late Friday night from Scarborough.

·              Attended Bucks Chilterns May Ball Saturday night. Drank vino, danced, fell over.

·              Briefed the NEC ‘westside’ Regional Conference team on Sunday night as to where the industrial dispute had got to.

15^th – 21^st May

·              This week is Regional Conference week. Sadly I’m not there! However, I’m genuinely not skiving, just unfortunately dates and events that I really need to attend have clashed. I am actually quite disappointed firstly because I would like to get out there to expose some of the myths that have been built up about the dispute and to explain where, even with our frustrations we stand, and secondly because these of course, will be my last Regional Conferences!

·              Attended and was part of the Panel debate at the CEL leadership summit.

·              Attended a 2 day residential meeting of the QIA just outside Coventry. I would like to say more but sadly can’t.

·              Unite Against Fascism steering meeting.

·              UNISON.

·              Met with the university employers again reaction and urged them to meet an independent third party ASAP.

·              Met with the Association of Graduate Recruiters. We are going to issue joint guidance to students and employers on the dispute.

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