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Thursday, August 17, 2006

NUS

Let's face it, it isn't going anywhere and will never form a serious part of CF's programme for the year. The question is whether or not to do nothing or to tolerate it.

As a veteran NUS conference 2002, I'm inclined to say 'Why not?'.

There are few opportunities for Conservative Students nationally to meet up, and to have the NUS pay to give us the opportunity is a blessing in disguise. Not only does it allow us to build our communications network (I'm proposing that we attempt proper national campaigns for students next year) but it provides an excuse for the most important student campaign.

Sabbatical positions at universities should be our main priority. Most CF members join at university branches and go on to pursue their interest with the party in later life, catching as many people at this stage should be a priority in our student campaigning, Sabb Officers give us some important continuity and a network of established support.

Positions within the union, whilst offering some opportunity to moderate student politics will, more importantly, provide a foundation for establishing a strong presence on campus next year. The Lib Dems adopt this approach and target their campaigns according to where they need to target seats. Though smaller and less well funded, this approach works well for them, and there is no reason why CF cannot repeat it more sucessfully.

Students will be the great overlooked resource in this election, but the potential to establish a stronger presence on campus, with its knock on effect for the party in years to come cannot be overlooked.

posted by Andrew Young at 8:16 AM

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I thought the right totally swept the board at Liverpool this year. I forget the name of your pres but I thought he was labour right.

2:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think Mr Howards ill thought out pledge to put commercial rates of interest on student loans might have hampered you guys a bit. He didn't spell out whether it would be applied retrospectively or not and didn't say whether it would be regulated by specific regulations or existing consumer credit law.

No wonder not many students wanted to vote tory. Screwed once by Blairs 'education, education, eductaion' (then hit with tuition fees) then screwed again by having interest rates whacked up to 8% or higher and a lifetime of 32% tax at everything over £15k.

Also for a party that goes on about 'fiscal drag' shouldn't the student loans threshold be raised every year?

CF should attack the NUS on fiscal issues and better financial education for students through its publications rather than acting as agents for Barclaycard.

The NUS is always gettinga bit here, a bit there from the student banks so is very timid when it comes to presenting any kind of independant financial information for students.

Students care about beer money - simple as!

9:04 AM  

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            Name: Andrew Young
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            I am one of the few Northern Irish members of CF in the country, having joined at University in Salford, Greater Manchester. I now live in London, working for the party in the London Assembly. I am an activist, who believes that CF’s greatest contribution to the party would be to get stuck in with the campaigning. I also work as editor for the CF website, CF TV and CF Net.

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