Aaron Porter
Encyclopedia
Aaron Ross Porter is the former President
of the National Union of Students in the United Kingdom
; he was elected with a 65% majority and took office in June 2010 for one year.
, south London
. His father is a policeman who grew up in London and his mother is a teacher from Trinidad
.
Porter studied at Wilson's School
in Wallington
in south London, before reading English Literature at the University of Leicester
, graduating with a BA in 2006. He took a leading role in the University of Leicester Students' Union
, serving as the Union's Finance and Services Officer, and then as its Academic Affairs Officer, as well as being the editor of the student magazine, The Ripple
.
Prior to becoming NUS President, Porter was twice elected as the NUS Vice-President (Higher Education), serving from July 2008 to June 2010. He was the first officer from the University of Leicester Students' Union to be elected to the National Union of Students' Executive Committee.
faction, but is a member of the Labour Party. He was subsequently elected with a 65% majority and took office in June 2010, which he would hold for the period of one year. Taking control of the Union, Porter put forward his views that he was in favour of lowering the voting age to sixteen, and stated he would lead a national demonstration against the government’s planned rise in tuition fees before any vote in Parliament on the issue. On taking up the NUS Presidency, Porter was profiled in The Observer
where he re-stated his opposition to any increase in tuition fees as well as the need for a new approach to campaigning that includes both formal lobbying as well as active campaigning.
Backing a graduate tax
as an alternative method of financing higher education, Porter stated that funding would need to be fair and progressive for students to support it. A keynote speech on the future of higher education warned of the implications of a funding crisis. He has also been vocal on the issue of graduate employment with significant national coverage. In November 2010, Porter appeared on the Daily Politics television show, arguing against the raising of students' tuition fees. After his appearance, presenter Andrew Neil
said of Porter: "I think I was listening to a future MP there!"
In response to the review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance chaired by Lord Browne
, the National Union of Students
organised a National Demonstration in London jointly with the University and College Union
. 50,000 protestors took part in the protest, at the end of which Porter addressed a rally
outside Tate Britain
. During the immediate aftermath of this demonstration on November 10, 2010, by over 50,000 people, Porter condemned the occupation of the Conservative Party
's headquarters
, referring to it as "violence by a tiny minority".
In January 2011 at an anti-cuts march and rally in Manchester, Porter was escorted away by police from a small section of the crowd of student protesters who were heckling
and shouting "you're a Tory too" - a chant commonly used against Liberal Democrats during the student fees protests
. There was also a Daily Mail report claiming their photographer had overheard anti-semitic abuse - a report later carried in other news outlets, despite Porter not being Jewish. Porter later confirmed to the Mule Newspaper in Manchester that he had not personally heard any anti-Semitic abuse. The barracking of Porter and calls for his resignation
reflected a current split in the students' union with a section supporting more militant action.
In February 2011 Porter said he had decided not to seek re-election for Presidency of the NUS, stating he felt the Union would benefit from new leadership.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the National Union of Students in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
; he was elected with a 65% majority and took office in June 2010 for one year.
Background and positions held
In 2010, Porter lived with his parents in NorburyNorbury
Norbury is a town in the London Borough of Croydon, also crossing the London Borough of Merton. It shares the postcode London SW16 with nearby Streatham. Norbury is south of Charing Cross.-History:...
, south London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
. His father is a policeman who grew up in London and his mother is a teacher from Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
.
Porter studied at Wilson's School
Wilson's School
Wilson's School is a boys' grammar school in Wallington, in the London Borough of Sutton, UK. Admission is based on performance in an entrance test with around 1,000 pupils being taught there....
in Wallington
Wallington, London
Wallington is a town in the London Borough of Sutton situated south south-west of Charing Cross. Prior to the merger of the Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington into the London Borough of Sutton, it was part of the county of Surrey.- History :...
in south London, before reading English Literature at the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, graduating with a BA in 2006. He took a leading role in the University of Leicester Students' Union
University of Leicester Students' Union
The University of Leicester Students' Union is the students' union of the University of Leicester. It is situated in the Percy Gee Building on the university campus. The union offers a wide range of facilities for students.-History:...
, serving as the Union's Finance and Services Officer, and then as its Academic Affairs Officer, as well as being the editor of the student magazine, The Ripple
The Ripple (newspaper)
-The Ripple Today:The Ripple is the Students' Union student magazine at the University of Leicester. The monthly flip-over free magazine editions have a potential readership of nearly 10,000 students...
.
Prior to becoming NUS President, Porter was twice elected as the NUS Vice-President (Higher Education), serving from July 2008 to June 2010. He was the first officer from the University of Leicester Students' Union to be elected to the National Union of Students' Executive Committee.
Presidency of the National Union of Students
Porter stood for the Presidency of the NUS as the candidate of the Organised IndependentsOrganised Independents
The Organised Independents are a grouping within the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom.The group is made up of candidates for National Executive Committee posts, all standing on an "independent" label, and their supporters, and as a result a lot of controversy has raged over whether...
faction, but is a member of the Labour Party. He was subsequently elected with a 65% majority and took office in June 2010, which he would hold for the period of one year. Taking control of the Union, Porter put forward his views that he was in favour of lowering the voting age to sixteen, and stated he would lead a national demonstration against the government’s planned rise in tuition fees before any vote in Parliament on the issue. On taking up the NUS Presidency, Porter was profiled in The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
where he re-stated his opposition to any increase in tuition fees as well as the need for a new approach to campaigning that includes both formal lobbying as well as active campaigning.
Backing a graduate tax
Graduate tax
A graduate tax is a proposed method of financing higher education. It has been proposed in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.-Background:...
as an alternative method of financing higher education, Porter stated that funding would need to be fair and progressive for students to support it. A keynote speech on the future of higher education warned of the implications of a funding crisis. He has also been vocal on the issue of graduate employment with significant national coverage. In November 2010, Porter appeared on the Daily Politics television show, arguing against the raising of students' tuition fees. After his appearance, presenter Andrew Neil
Andrew Neil
Andrew Ferguson Neil is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster.He currently works for the BBC, presenting the live political programmes The Daily Politics and This Week...
said of Porter: "I think I was listening to a future MP there!"
In response to the review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance chaired by Lord Browne
Lord Browne
Lord Browne or Lord Brown may refer to*John Browne, Baron Browne of Madingley , former BP executive*Nicholas Browne-Wilkinson, Baron Browne-Wilkinson, , jurist*Wallace Browne, Baron Browne of Belmont, Ulster Unionist politician...
, the National Union of Students
National Union of Students
-British Isles:*National Union of Students**National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland**National Union of Students Scotland**National Union of Students Wales-Scandinavia:*Danish National Union of Students*National Union of Students in Finland...
organised a National Demonstration in London jointly with the University and College Union
University and College Union
The University and College Union is a British trade union formed by the merger in 2006 of the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education ....
. 50,000 protestors took part in the protest, at the end of which Porter addressed a rally
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
outside Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
. During the immediate aftermath of this demonstration on November 10, 2010, by over 50,000 people, Porter condemned the occupation of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
's headquarters
Conservative Campaign Headquarters
Conservative Campaign Headquarters , formerly known as Conservative Central Office is the headquarters of the British Conservative Party, housing its central staff and committee members....
, referring to it as "violence by a tiny minority".
In January 2011 at an anti-cuts march and rally in Manchester, Porter was escorted away by police from a small section of the crowd of student protesters who were heckling
Heckler
A heckler is a person who harass and try to disconcert others with questions, challenges, or gibes.Hecklers are often known to shout disparaging comments at a performance or event, or interrupts set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting, with intent to disturb its performers or...
and shouting "you're a Tory too" - a chant commonly used against Liberal Democrats during the student fees protests
2010 UK student protests
The 2010 UK student protests were a series of demonstrations that began in November 2010 in several areas of the United Kingdom, with the focal point of protests centred in London. The initial event was the largest student protest in the UK since the Labour government first proposed the Teaching...
. There was also a Daily Mail report claiming their photographer had overheard anti-semitic abuse - a report later carried in other news outlets, despite Porter not being Jewish. Porter later confirmed to the Mule Newspaper in Manchester that he had not personally heard any anti-Semitic abuse. The barracking of Porter and calls for his resignation
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
reflected a current split in the students' union with a section supporting more militant action.
In February 2011 Porter said he had decided not to seek re-election for Presidency of the NUS, stating he felt the Union would benefit from new leadership.