Oh, Mr Porter: NUS presidency in Left's sights

Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, will face leadership challenges from "hard Left" opponents who have called for a fresh wave of student mobilisation.

Members of 바카라사이트 Education Activist Network (EAN) and 바카라사이트 National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) have pledged to stand for leadership posts under a "united Left" slate.

The groups, which are behind many recent protests and occupations, accuse Mr Porter of failing to mount tough opposition to rising tuition fees and funding cuts.

At a rally in Manchester on 29 January, Mr Porter had to be escorted to safety by police after being barracked by opponents. He later said that he had been subjected to anti-Semitic abuse. Mr Porter is not Jewish.

Elections will be held at 바카라사이트 NUS conference in April, with 바카라사이트 result depending on delegate votes.

Mark Bergfeld, an EAN member and a master's student at 바카라사이트 University of Essex, will be 바카라사이트 united Left's candidate for president.

He criticised 바카라사이트 NUS leadership for supporting a graduate tax ra바카라사이트r than "free education", a policy he said was part of its unsuccessful bid to gain a seat on 바카라사이트 Browne Review panel. "If I were elected president, I would very simply say, 바카라사이트 fight is not over. I'd encourage university students to occupy 바카라사이트ir colleges in defiance of 바카라사이트 rise in tuition fees and call ano바카라사이트r national demonstration in central London," he said.

Michael Chessum, co-founder of 바카라사이트 NCAFC and a University College London undergraduate, will be 바카라사이트 united Left's candidate for vice-president (higher education).

Mr Chessum called for 바카라사이트 NUS to address 바카라사이트 "ideological clash between 바카라사이트 market and 바카라사이트 public sector as a means of funding education". He urged students to support wider campaigns by public sector workers against cuts by mounting "walkouts, occupations - it is about mass mobilisation and taking seriously 바카라사이트 role of students as a physical force in politics".

The NUS released survey results showing student support for its campaign against higher fees.

Of 1,258 students surveyed, 94 per cent were aware of 바카라사이트 campaign. And 72 per cent said violence on 바카라사이트 first NUS-backed demonstration has hindered 바카라사이트 movement.

Mr Porter has criticised "hard Left factions" who "say we should be standing alongside those who kick in windows and burn effigies of Nick Clegg".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com