NUS has invited Maurice Glasman, a Labour member of the House of Lords, to be the keynote speaker at its upcoming “We Are the Change” event in Manchester on 11th November.
Glasman has spoken repeatedly against immigration, supporting the slogan ‘British Jobs for British Workers’, saying that he supports a total ban on immigration, and backtracked only marginally. He has argued for the Labour Party to involve supporters of the EDL – not, of course, through pro-working class policies which can undermine the far right’s appeal, but by pandering to their “concerns” about immigration.
Why was Glasman invited to speak? To invite Glasman as a keynote speaker, particularly at a time when all migrants are under attack, is a disgrace, and an affront to international students in particular.
Our movement should be challenging the likes of Glasman – including through public debate – but not promoting them as authorities.
We call on NUS to cancel the invitation and release a statement explaining that they have done so because of Glasman’s stance on immigration.
Arianna Tassinari, NUS NEC International Students Second Place
Rosie Huzzard, NUS NEC Block of 15
Edmund Schluessel, NUS NEC Block of 15
Matthew Smith, President, Ruskin Students Union (Personal Capacity) and NUS Mature and Part Time Students Committee
Jamie Green, Vice President Communication and Campaigns, Royal Holloway Student Union
Robin Hanford, Students With Disabilities Officer, Ruskin Students Union (Personal Capacity)
Rebecca Barton, LGBT Exec officer, Ruskin Students Union
Kristie Waller, Women’s Officer, Ruskin Students Union
Kirsty Haigh, Vice President Services, Edinburgh University Students Association
Roshni Joshi, Ruskin College
Rosie Huzzard 