Socialist Party member Hannah Ponting is standing for one of the elected Guild of Students (student union) positions at the University of Liverpool.
Hannah said: “If elected, I aim to create a guild that will lead the fight in campaigning for free education and more. I back students and workers fighting back. This should not just be limited to the university campus alone.”
The Guild asked Hannah what her priorities are. She said:
Fight for free education
The recent rise in tuition fees is one of the most pressing issues students face. Young people should not have to take on mountains of debt, simply to get an education.
Universities are going through a financial crisis that can only be solved by full funding from the government, not just pushing the burden onto us. I will fight against further fee rises, and for free education, and the scrapping of tuition fees.
Students are suffering from the cost-of-living crisis. Maintenance loans fail to cover our basic essentials, whilst plunging us into more debt down the line.
I will use my position as Guild Officer to campaign to expand student bursaries. We need grants we can live on, instead of loans, and rent caps in student accommodation too.
Support unionisation for Guild workers
The Guild hires roughly 230 staff, both permanent career staff, and part-time student staff. They serve us food and drink, keep the space clean, and make sure that society events can run.
However, with increasing cuts to universities and student unions, the rights of these workers are not fully protected, via having a trade union branch of their own. My pledge is to support the ongoing campaign to unionise the Guild, putting workers’ rights first – ensuring better hours, pay, and workplace protection.
Expand the night bus route
Years ago, a campaign was started to reinstate the night bus. After years of campaigning, we won.
The night bus now goes through Smithdown Road and other areas in the south of Liverpool, ensuring that those who live there can get home safely. However, it still does not go into Kensington, the north of Liverpool, or the Wirral.
My pledge is that I will fight to expand the night bus routes to go into these areas, and increase the intervals from every hour to every half hour, so that every student can get home safely.
Financial transparency from the uni
The university should be transparent about where it gets its money from, and who it gives it to. And now universities are cutting jobs and courses.
The University of Liverpool should therefore open its financial records to both workers and students, so we can democratically decide what the money is spent on. Universities should have no part in war or arms sales, and student fees should not be used to fund it either.
