Student Broad Left
Encyclopedia
Student Broad Left is a factional grouping operating within the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom.
The group was formed in 1997 as a split from the Campaign for Free Education
(CFE) and first contested NUS elections in 1998. It is characterised by its vocal support for the NUS Liberation Campaigns, Palestinian
rights and for free, state-funded education, and its loud opposition to racism, Islamophobia, fascism and war. The group describes itself as a "network of left activists campaigning for a progressive student movement", and has Labour
, Respect, Green
and independent members.
In most years, Student Broad Left formed a slate with the Campaign for Free Education
and Socialist Workers' Student Society
, to increase the number of socialist candidates elected. This assisted the group in ensuring it has almost always had a least one member elected to the NUS Executive. In the 2004 NUS elections the CFE and SWSS split and stood against each other. Student Broad Left and the CFE negotiated a slate for some places, but in the proportional representation
"Block of 12" election, Student Broad Left supported transfers to SWSS over CFE . Student Broad Left candidate Peter Leary polled 2nd in the Block of 12 in 2004 and 2005 coming behind only Labour Students
. George Woods was Student Broad Left's Block of 12 member for 2006-8.
Opponents of Student Broad Left claim that many of the founders of the group, including all SBL candidates to the NUS National Executive Committee, have been closely linked to Socialist Action
, pointing out that the Student Broad Left supports the same campaigns as Socialist Action, for example the Student Assembly Against Racism
, Unite Against Fascism
, Student CND and Cuban solidarity. Though these allegations are levelled at SBL members with some regularity, the list of organisations could cover many left wing groups and individuals, and is not indicative of any particular faction.
In 2008, Student Broad Left had mixed fortunes. During the 2008 NUS Annual Conference, Student Broad Left formed a slate with Student Respect
putting forward Ruqayyah Collector, NUS Black Students' Officer 2006-8, as candidate for NUS National President. Bryony Shanks was put forward as candidate for NUS National Treasurer and the Block of 12. Neither Ruqayyah or Bryony were elected.
Student Broad Left has become much more active in 2010, and co-hosted the Progressive Students Conference with the National Black Students' Alliance in October 2010, attracting high-profile speakers including Ken Livingstone
, Salma Yaqoob
, Adrian Ramsay
, Emily Thornberry
and more from organisations including CND, Unite Against Fascism
, UCU
and the NUS.
Kanja Sesay, NUS Black Students' Officer, and Joshi Sachdeo are Student Broad Left members of the NUS Executive for 2010-11.
NUS National Conference 2011 saw the election of Student Broad Left's Aaron Kiely to the Block of 15. Kiely joins Sesay and Sachdeo on the NUS Executive for 2011-12.
The group should not be confused with the principally CPGB
, Labour
and Liberal
grouping known as Broad Left
, which held the NUS presidency between 1973 and 1984.
The group was formed in 1997 as a split from the Campaign for Free Education
Campaign for Free Education
The Campaign for Free Education was a left-wing grouping in the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom of those opposed to tuition fees and the abolition of student grants....
(CFE) and first contested NUS elections in 1998. It is characterised by its vocal support for the NUS Liberation Campaigns, Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
rights and for free, state-funded education, and its loud opposition to racism, Islamophobia, fascism and war. The group describes itself as a "network of left activists campaigning for a progressive student movement", and has Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, Respect, Green
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
and independent members.
In most years, Student Broad Left formed a slate with the Campaign for Free Education
Campaign for Free Education
The Campaign for Free Education was a left-wing grouping in the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom of those opposed to tuition fees and the abolition of student grants....
and Socialist Workers' Student Society
Socialist Workers' Student Society
The Socialist Worker Student Society, commonly known as SWSS , is the student section of the Socialist Workers Party in Britain.Mark Bergfeld was elected onto the NUS NEC in 2010 and re-elected to the NUS NEC in 2011 with the highest number of first preference votes along with Ruby...
, to increase the number of socialist candidates elected. This assisted the group in ensuring it has almost always had a least one member elected to the NUS Executive. In the 2004 NUS elections the CFE and SWSS split and stood against each other. Student Broad Left and the CFE negotiated a slate for some places, but in the proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
"Block of 12" election, Student Broad Left supported transfers to SWSS over CFE . Student Broad Left candidate Peter Leary polled 2nd in the Block of 12 in 2004 and 2005 coming behind only Labour Students
Labour Students
Labour Students is a student organisation affiliated to the British Labour Party.Membership comprises affiliated college and university clubs . Membership of Labour Students is through membership of a university or college Labour Club. Affiliation is open to any Labour Club generally supportive of...
. George Woods was Student Broad Left's Block of 12 member for 2006-8.
Opponents of Student Broad Left claim that many of the founders of the group, including all SBL candidates to the NUS National Executive Committee, have been closely linked to Socialist Action
Socialist Action (UK)
Socialist Action is a small Trotskyist group in the United Kingdom. From the mid-1980s Socialist Action became an entryist organisation, attempting to take over other organisations, with members using code names and not revealing their affiliation....
, pointing out that the Student Broad Left supports the same campaigns as Socialist Action, for example the Student Assembly Against Racism
Student Assembly Against Racism
Student Assembly Against Racism is the student wing of the United Kingdom National Assembly Against Racism.- External links :*...
, Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist pressure group in the United Kingdom, with support from politicians of all mainstream UK political parties...
, Student CND and Cuban solidarity. Though these allegations are levelled at SBL members with some regularity, the list of organisations could cover many left wing groups and individuals, and is not indicative of any particular faction.
In 2008, Student Broad Left had mixed fortunes. During the 2008 NUS Annual Conference, Student Broad Left formed a slate with Student Respect
Student RESPECT
Student RESPECT was founded as the student wing of the Respect Party in England and Wales in 2005 to provide a united campaigning organisation of the radical left in the student movement....
putting forward Ruqayyah Collector, NUS Black Students' Officer 2006-8, as candidate for NUS National President. Bryony Shanks was put forward as candidate for NUS National Treasurer and the Block of 12. Neither Ruqayyah or Bryony were elected.
Student Broad Left has become much more active in 2010, and co-hosted the Progressive Students Conference with the National Black Students' Alliance in October 2010, attracting high-profile speakers including Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, Salma Yaqoob
Salma Yaqoob
Salma Yaqoob is the leader, and former vice-chair, of the Respect Party and a former Birmingham City Councillor. She is also the head of the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition and a spokesperson for Birmingham Central Mosque....
, Adrian Ramsay
Adrian Ramsay
Adrian Philip Ramsay is an English politician and Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. First elected at the age of 21 in 2003, he was a Green Party councillor representing Nelson Ward on Norwich City Council, where he was Coordinator of a fourteen-strong Green groupuing and the...
, Emily Thornberry
Emily Thornberry
Emily Anne Thornberry is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury since 2005.-Before Parliament:...
and more from organisations including CND, Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist pressure group in the United Kingdom, with support from politicians of all mainstream UK political parties...
, UCU
UCU
UCU may stand for:*Uganda Christian University, church-based university near Kampala, Uganda*Ukrainian Catholic University, Catholic university in Lviv, Ukraine*University College Utrecht, international Honors College of Utrecht University, Netherlands...
and the NUS.
Kanja Sesay, NUS Black Students' Officer, and Joshi Sachdeo are Student Broad Left members of the NUS Executive for 2010-11.
NUS National Conference 2011 saw the election of Student Broad Left's Aaron Kiely to the Block of 15. Kiely joins Sesay and Sachdeo on the NUS Executive for 2011-12.
The group should not be confused with the principally CPGB
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
, Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
grouping known as Broad Left
Broad Left
The Broad Left was a political faction within the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom during the 1970s. It consisted of a working relationship between the Labour Party, the Liberal Party, Plaid Cymru, the Communist Party of Great Britain , and other, non-aligned, supporters in order...
, which held the NUS presidency between 1973 and 1984.