UK students

Student activism in the UK and the NUS. See also UCU.

Challenge is better than bans

Rapper and left-wing activist Lowkey seems to have been pressured into withdrawing from a performance at National Union of Students (NUS) conference, after the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) objected on grounds of antisemitism. Lowkey is a long-time supporter of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War — but it’s not his commitment to those causes that is being attacked, at least directly. Lowkey is on the “ultra” end of left anti-Zionism, where it shades into left antisemitism. For example, he called Israel a “racist endeavour” in the middle of a row about the IHRA formula which...

Not really a conference

The National Union of Students conference (28-29 March in Liverpool) could barely be called a conference, with a complete lack of democratic processes. The first day was mainly focused around the biannual election of full-time officers. The left-backed candidates, Shaima Dallali and Chloe Field, won President and Vice-President HE, but Fin Deane lost out for Vice-President FE, after running a good campaign to democratise NUS and build links with trade unions and social movements. The “policy workshops” on day two of the conference won’t even discuss one of the more positive motions, calling to...

Stirrings in student union

The policies put forward by candidates in the full-time officer elections and the (limited) policy discussions at this year’s National Union of Students conference (28-29 March) reflect a growing layer of left-wing students campaigning in UK higher education. The background to a push back against marketisation in HE is popularity for socialist ideas among young people, the experiences of the pandemic, and long-term failures in higher education to provide basic support particularly for mental ill-health. However the student movement is not yet there on an adequate policy to reverse...

New protests follow SOAS occupation

From Wednesday 23 February, a group of students at SOAS in London occupied the management corridor in our university for nine full days, until we were illegally evicted (dragged out) by private bailiffs late on the night of Thursday 3 March. The occupation has led to a big uptick in on-campus political organising, with over 30 students inside the occupation, and hundreds more gathering outside at times in supporting rallies. The occupation demanded of the university management: accept the demands of the UCU and Unison workers’ disputes; accept and implement the demands of student-led campaigns...

Student activism is alive, kicking and occupying at Sheffield University

Alice and Gonzo are two of the student activists who occupied five buildings at the University of Sheffield during the first week of industrial action by the University and College Union (UCU). It’s a rainy afternoon on 14 February, and what a better Valentine’s Day gift to the university than to begin a week-long campaign of occupations. At around 2 pm, 16 students entered Jessop West on campus, heading in pairs to locations picked to secure as much access to the building - including prime banner-hanging locations - as possible. Once we had spread out across four floors, the security liaison...

Workers and students against university bosses

So far, strikes by the University and College Union (UCU) over the USS pensions battle and “Four Fights” dispute (over pay, equality, workload and casualisation) have shown strong resolve from a wide group of members, despite Covid absences having depressed branch organisation and with Covid still having an impact across the UK. UCU members should feel encouraged by this start. Critical to winning these disputes remains three important factors: mobilising more activists to the picket lines, escalating the action, and maintaining the link between the two disputes. Solidarity goes to press...

Student action escalates

Student action has escalated again in the second week (from 21 February) of the strikes by the University and College Union (UCU), with a number of occupations at Sussex, Sheffield Hallam, and Nottingham universities, following on from the direct actions the previous week. Actions are building up now towards the National Union of Students (NUS) walk-out on the final day of this round of UCU strikes - Wednesday 2 March. Though the time and location of the centrepiece London protest on 2 March are yet to be confirmed, we welcome the move to call a national demonstration for free and liberated...

Students step up strike solidarity

Strikes by the University and College Union (UCU) from 14 February have once again been met with enthusiastic student solidarity. Student organisation is more established than the December strikes, and at many campuses have worked with local UCU members in designing very full teachout schedules. In teachouts, educational topics and methods which are lacking from most formal university settings can be practised and discussed to show the potential of repurposing university spaces. Student solidarity can promote the class struggle in the dispute, and help bring more workers out on strike. At...

Students build solidarity

Energised by the University and College Union (UCU) strikes at the end of 2021, student solidarity campaigning is taking a grip across the UK. After the rent and fee strikes of 2020-21, left-wing students are channelling energy into supporting the ongoing disputes of their teaching staff, as well as looking outward to the wider workers’ movement. Red Square Movement (RSM) has set up as a national organisation to coordinate this action and carry forward the campaign for free and liberated education. On 26 January it held an online meeting with over 70 students, with good geographic distribution...

“Student strike” 2 March

The National Union of Students (NUS) has called a “student strike” on 2 March to coincide with the UCU’s last national strike day. It’s good that NUS is calling action de facto in support of the uni workers’ disputes. But the action is advertised around generalities on free education and inclusiveness, not specifically the disputes. NUS talks of “taking over central London” on 2 March, but in specifics only a “teach-in” or “rally” in a “park space”. Activists are calling on NUS to encourage students to be on picket lines thoughout the weeks of UCU action, and to organise a demonstration...

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.