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And this is challenge for leadership MEDIA COVERAGE of the National Union of Students Conference in Blackpool earlier this week, concentrated on the antics of the Federation of Conservative Students and the hostile reception given to a Tory Minister The image created was one of a Conference torn between the lunatic ideas of the far right and the alleged violence of the so called, 'Red fascist Left'. The real story of this Conference however was very Organisation of Students, (NOLS) manouvered its way out of the three crucial debates — on the miners' strike, on Harrington's presence at PNL (the National Front Organiser) and the student grant. Far from reflecting the growing radicalism of students this conference saw the NOLS/NUS leadership remain in The NOLS leadership combine a verbal leftism with a thoroughly rightist political practise. They retain their base of support by doing just enough to allow the discontent and anger that is building up amongst students to vent itself once in a while.
La union which has millions in assets donated just £1,000. All in the name of 'getting back to the members to raise sup. port for the miners, rather than giving token doneThey argued that ultra vires payments to the miners were a 'diversion' from the real struggle, leaving their constituent organisations completely open to attack by the courts. In reality they scabbed on both the miners and their most militant members who are prepared to support the NUM and take on the college authorities On the dispute at PNL, they said that ILEA and the trade unions at the college were the only ones that could get rid of Harrington. What a wet excuse for stabbing PNL students in the back!
On grants, Phil Woolas, NUS President, even had the gall to claim that the NUS leaders were responsible for the militant demonstrations on 28 This was when 130 students were arrested on Westminster Bridge for protesting at the Every delegate at the conference knew he was lying through his teeth but he got away with it. In addition no clear mandate was given to the executive about how the grants system should be defended. It is still under attack despite the Tories climbdown on the better off parents contribu.
The debate over PNL was the closest the left got to upsetting the iron grip of the NOLS leaders real framework for mounting a full scale challenge because it's not willing to fight for the leadership of the union. It prefers to stay with the rank and precisely the opposite to what is needed in the NUS right now. The NOLS leaders get away with their talk left, don't do anything line because of the failure of the left among students to organise the base of militancy into a head on Those students involved in fighting the Tories aren't happy with the NOLS leaders. A current has to be built inside NOLS that can give a focus to this Such a current will give a national voice to the left in NUS conference and begin to pose a real threat to the complacency of the NOLS leaders.