Eoin Williams, UCL Socialist Students
Student activists from all over the country will gather in Leicester for the Socialist Students conference on 8 February.
It will be an opportunity to discuss and debate with fellow young activists. After an initial discussion on the ‘New era of crisis and opportunities for socialists on campus under Starmer’s Labour’, there will be a debate and votes on motions.
So far, two motions have been submitted by the Socialist Students steering committee. The first outlining the issues facing British capitalism. The second: ‘Funding Not Fees: Sharpening the campaigning edge of Socialist Students’, a programme outlining the demands socialist students place on universities and the government alike. There are other motions too, from Socialist Students groups including one on ‘kicking sexism off campus’, for example.
Those who register to attend, and existing activists in Socialist Student groups, can read the documents as preparation. The discussions will help determine the strategy of Socialist Students for the next year.
Now, more than ever, we need to clarify our ideas and strategy. The first days of Trump’s presidency just amplifies how volatile the world is and his reactionary rhetoric highlights the need to tackle right-wing populist ideas by offering a socialist alternative.
Socialist Students wants to be a part of the fightback – against the uni funding crisis and fees rises, and against the likes of Trump, Nigel Farage and Keir Starmer.
If you’re a student and wish to be a part of this process, join us at the Socialist Students conference.
Independent ‘Gaza’ MP to speak
Socialist Students is pleased to announce that Shockat Adam, Independent MP for Leicester South (where the conference is being held), has accepted our invitation to come and address our conference.
Socialist Students members have been approaching MPs asking them to oppose the Labour government’s plans to hike uni tuition fees by calling for funding not fees and, if so, what are they prepared to do to fight on our side against Starmer?
We are determined to build a movement to fight for free education and funding. Politicians like Shockat, Jeremy Corbyn and other independents, as well as others who are prepared to stand up to the Labour leaders, could have an important role to play in building the socialist opposition to Starmer’s new cuts and austerity.
Socialist Students conference 2025
Saturday 8 February 10 am, Highefields centre, Leicester, LE2 0DS
