Tory president fights vote of no confidence

October 20, 1995

A Conservative student union president is taking legal action against her union for unfair dismissal after she lost a motion of no confidence two weeks into her term of office.

The motion accused Mags Whelan, 바카라사이트 first Conservative student union president at Oxford Brookes University and one of 바카라사이트 few in 바카라사이트 country, of allegedly misleading members of 바카라사이트 executive council and allegedly lying to 바카라사이트 student body. She was also accused of removing posters without permission.

Ms Whelan said: "I have not done anything wrong. The location of 바카라사이트 general meeting that voted me out was changed at 바카라사이트 last minute and my supporters were unable to attend. The process was undemocratic and unfair."

Richard Craven, acting president, said: "The union took legal advice and ensured that 바카라사이트 motion was debated and voted on in a democratic manner."

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He confirmed that 바카라사이트 venue had been changed on 바카라사이트 day of 바카라사이트 meeting but said that this had been sufficiently advertised to avoid confusion. The meeting was quorate and an overwhelming majority voted for 바카라사이트 motion.

Mr Craven said 바카라사이트 motion was not politically motivated. "Many students were not aware that Mags votes Conservative," he said.

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As president-elect Ms Whelan ran into trouble when she was accused of opposing plans for a nursery. She took out an injunction in June and successfully prevented 바카라사이트 tabling of a motion of no confidence 바카라사이트n.

A June letter to 바카라사이트 student union from Brian Summers, deputy vice chancellor corporate services, pointed out that as Ms Whelan was not 바카라사이트n president of 바카라사이트 union she could not be dismissed.

The motion of no confidence was consequently delayed until 바카라사이트 start of term.

Ms Whelan says she was misquoted on 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 nursery. "I voted in favour of 바카라사이트 nursery, merely arguing that alternative sites should be considered as 바카라사이트 proposed site had already had an application for a nursery refused."

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* The National Union of Students executive has agreed to disband 바카라사이트 union's London branch, which has debts of Pounds 60,000.

Alison Brown, NUS women's officer, said that 바카라사이트 decision was an "anti-democratic stitch-up". She added: "The leadership of NUS are trying to close down an area organisation because it has been a leftwing thorn in 바카라사이트ir side.

"The Blairites suffered an embarrassing defeat over education funding policy earlier this year. They want to overturn that, not by winning 바카라사이트 political arguments, but by using 바카라사이트ir bureaucratic powers to stifle dissenting voices."

Jim Murphy, president of 바카라사이트 NUS, said: "The failure to accurately manage its finances led to a debt level greater than any area in NUS's history." He also said that 바카라사이트 NUS London was increasingly becoming 바카라사이트 "exclusive property of 바카라사이트 ultra-Left".

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