I can’t say I’m ever prepared for what annual conference will throw at me. This year as National Secretary being “politically responsible” (whatever that means in this context) for Annual Conference was particularly daunting, especially as I was also standing for re-election.

To my surprise, I think conference passed through, operationally at least, with little conflict. Very few complaints were received, no huge problems were raised and we ended up introducing access breaks into conference with little opposition. This result is particularly pleasing.

I’m glad conference is getting better and I’m pleased to begin that change. I know from my involvement in the Disabled Students campaign and through it’s leadership that our Sovereign body is problematic for many reasons but first and fore mostly, for access.

It simply isn’t accessible or legal to have a conference where delegates are expected to sit on conference floor for 14 hours + a day. That isn’t accessible to anyone. So, during this governance review one of my challenges will be to ensure that we have more effective and understandable forum for making policy but further, ensuring that are conference meets it’s legislative obligations. It was the most accessible conference to date and I’m very proud of this.

For me, conference was incredibly polarised. No one had really foreseen the huge divide between the hard left and the centrist sabbaticals on conference floor. It almost turned into a bit of a circus. Now for many of us on the NEC this was quite frustrating. Although extremely pleased at the support we received from conference on Governance, Priority campaign strategy etc, I often thought that the reasoning and justification was confused.

Our reasoning for wanting a governance review does not have an-ant politics undercurrent. It does not seek to squeeze out any particular political grouping or faction. It is not designed to make the “indy-left” stronger and the “hard-left” weaker. Any system that would do this would fundamentally flawed and automatically opposed by the National President and myself. This process is not about having less involvement on one side of the debate but about increasing involvement on ALL sides of the debate. This process is about ensuring that no longer will marginalised or currently under-represented groups on conference floor like Mature students, Hindu students, Black Students, Trans students, whatever feel that our democracy, our structures are not for them, and that in turn we ensure they are supported and encouraged to be involved in this process.

“Not for Politics, just for Students” was, well, frankly an unfortunate choice of phrase. It only sought to further polarise the debate on floor and perpetuate that “anti-politics” myth. I’m pleased that those students and sabbaticals organised themselves to a achieve there political agenda though. But let’s not pretend that what they did is any more honourable or deplorable than what other groups in NUS currently do. Being an “organised grouping” or an “organised faction” is very difficult to define especially when you consider yourself to be of independent thought. But to me, it doesn’t really matter whether you vote with “your mates” or vote “by yourself”, what matters is that you vote, believing your doing the best for students, the best for students’ unions and the best for NUS. What matters is that you do this and are able to justify it. I believe most groups or factions in NUS can and do and that’s one of the reasons I will always defend their right to organise within our structures.

I suppose my big disappointment of conference was the poor amount of campaigning policy passed through the Strong and Active Unions zone. The difficultly of course is that constitutionally, all constitutional motions or amendments have to be in this zone. Again, another clear show of need for a governance review. We will never have campaigning text that the Media, Activities or sport people want whilst this continues to be the case.

However, that is all I was really disappointed with. Election wise, I was very happy. Happy that I was re-elected with such a huge vote, happy that Gemma’s hard work was recognised in her election and elated that conference voted to make Ama the next VP Welfare. It’s virtually impossible to get down on paper what being involved in an election like that is like. But to say it was hard would be a massive understatement. There were two good candidates in that election, both who had huge drive and ambition for the welfare campaign and I’m sad to see Richard leave the student movement. But, I hope he leaves with friendships still intact. And anyone who has ever met Richard will know he will go on to be a huge success in whatever he does. Congratulations also to Dave, Wes and Beth and all the Block of twelve.

As a special note, I’d like to say that this year NUS missed out on a person who would give his right arm to make student lives better – Daryn, bad luck mate, you will be missed.

Before I finish, I’d like to just to pay tribute to two very special, talented, inspirational women leaving the NEC this year. Veronica King and Ellie Russell are not only two of the hardest working members of the NEC, members that have delivered so much for NUS and students, but two of the most talented individuals I’ve ever met. I’ll miss sitting opposite both of you, laughing and working with you. But I know our friendship will stay strong, thanks for listening to me moan!

There’s probably a lot more to say on conference, I could’ve talked about the attack leaflet by a “mystery faction” on Ama and myself (we know who it was, and probably so do you), or the speculation beforehand. But I’ll always end up trying to unite people, trying to consensus build and hope that everyone recognises the huge challenge ahead and takes this unique opportunity to make our organisation stronger, leaner and better for students.

That’s all for now…

Stephen

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