Student leaders write to the Guardian

As student leaders we are appalled by Labour and Conservative attempts to duck difficult questions on student fees and finance at the next general election.

We are in no doubt that a review panel dominated by business and university leaders is designed to stitch up students with yet another inflation busting hike in tuition fees. Students will not stand for this.

Opinion polls conducted for the National Union of Students and lecturers’ union UCU consistently show that the overwhelming majority of the public are opposed to higher fees. Only twelve per cent of the general public believe this review should even consider raising our fees; when students entering university this autumn are set to graduate with debts in excess of £23,500 it is not hard to see why.

If Labour and Conservative leaders believe they can maintain their cosy consensus of silence until the general election and beyond they have another thing coming. Today we are descending on Parliament to demand that Labour and Conservative MP’s come clean on their stance. Any parliamentary candidate that does not sign the NUS pledge to vote against an increase in fees and support our calls for a fairer funding system will be named and shamed before polling day.

In 2005, the student vote made a significant difference in towns and cities across the UK. Our message is clear: candidates must vote with us, or students won’t vote for them.

Signed

1. Fabian Neuner, President, University of Birmingham Guild of Students
2. Colin Shaw, President, Aston Students’ Guild
3. Danielle Grufferty, President, Liverpool University Guild of Students
4. Thomas Graham, President, Edinburgh University Students’ Association
5. Nizam Uddin, President, University of London Union
6. Rob Greenhalgh, President, Nottingham University Students’ Union
7. Luke Young, President, Swansea University Students’ Union
8. Tom Spencer, President, Stirling University Students’ Association
9. Jak Codd, Communications Officer, Leeds University Union
10. Kayleigh Wilson, Newcastle College Students’ Union
11. Susie, President, Liverpool Hope Students’ Union
12. Bally Singh, President, Wolverhampton University Students’ Union
13. Paul Tobin, President, Sheffield University Students’ Union
14. Dani Beckett, President, Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union
15. Stefan Baskerville, President, Oxford University Students’ Union
16. Helen Gimber, President, University of the Arts London Students’ Union
17. Ryan Wain, President, Kings College London Students’ Union
18. Robert Boardman, President, Manchester Metropolitan Students’ Union
19. Julie Sadlier, President, University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union
20. Kasia Bylinska, President, Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association
21. Sinead Brennan, President, Reading University Students’ Union
22. Jason Wallis, President, York St John University Students’ Union
23. Michael Payne, President, Lancaster University Students’ Union
24. Andrew Jones, President, Courtauld Students’ Union
25. James Ricci, President, Bournemouth University Students’ Union
26. Dave Wright, President, Northumbria University Students’ Union
27. Adam Mason, President, Keele University Students’ Union
28. Owen Peachey, President, University of Bristol Union
29. Andrew Keenan, President, St Andrews University Students’ Representative Council
30. Matthew Webber, President, University of Salford Students’ Union
31. Hari Sparkes, President, Plymouth College of Art Students’ Union
32. Naz Harrison, President, Brighton University Students’ Union
33. Ross Murchison, President, The Robert Gordon University Students’ Association
34. Natalie Crisp, President, University of Durham Students’ Union
35. Tom Foy, President, Buckinghamshire New University Students’ Union
36. Nikhil Raj Cumlajee, President, City University Students’ Union
37. Chris Charnley, President, University of Lincoln Students’ Union
38. David Walker, President, Nottingham Trent University Students’ Union
39. Lewis Coakley, President, Leeds Metropolitan University Students’ Union
40. Natalie Foster, President, Union of Brunel Students
41. Simon Eltringham, President, Heriot-Watt University Students’ Association
42. Helen Wood, President, University of Kent Union
43. Tom Hobman, President, York College Students’ Union
44. Amer Reza, President, De Montfort University Students’ Union
45. Casper Beade, President, University of Chichester Students’ Union
46. Tom Cawkwell, President, University of Teesside Students’ Union
47. Polly, President, Norwich University College of the Arts
48. Stephen O’Reilly, President, Southampton University Students’ Union
49. Jamie Northrop, President, Chester Students’ Union
50. Ashley Brown, President, Imperial College Union
51. Robin Parker, President, Aberdeen University Students’ Association
52. Ian Todd, University of Abertay Dundee Students’ Association
53. Philip Whyte, President, Strathclyde University Students’ Association
54. Matt East, President, Anglia Ruskin University Students’ Union
55. Beth Woodthorpe-Evans  President, University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union
56. David Antell, President, Worcester Students’ Union
57. Stephanie Pitticas, President, Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association
58. Andrew Smith, President, Dundee University Students’ Association
59. Ibby Mehmet, President, University of Essex Students’ Union
60. David Devlin, President, University of the West of Scotland Students’ Association
61. Aled Dilwyn Fisher, General Secretary, LSE Students’ Union
62. Andy Speed, President, University Campus Suffolk Students’ Union
63. Jake Rusby, President, Edinburgh College of Art Students’ Union
64. John Jackson, President, Bangor Students’ Union
65. Robert Hulme, President, Loughborough Students’ Union
66. Caleb Jackson, President, University of Derby Students’ Union
67. Andriana Georgiou, President, Union President, Newcastle University
68. Daniel O’Toole, President, University of Bath Students’ Union (personal capacity)
69. Ed Carey, President, Cardiff University Students’ Union
70. Andrew Bradley, President, University of Warwick Students’ Union
71. Eamonn Lindsell, President, University of Northampton Students’ Union
72.  Emmanuel Akpan-Ingwang, Education and Welfare Officer, LSE Students’ Union
73. Sean Rillo-Raczka, Chair of Council, Birkbeck Students’ Union
74. Tami Peterson, Executive Chair, Birkbeck Students’ Union
75. Liah Maccallam, Coventry University Students’ Union
76. Kerri Hutchinson, Vice President, Heriot-Watt University Students’ Association
77. Steve Topazio, Vice President, University of Portsmouth Students’ Union
78. Ed Marshall, Vice President, University of Plymouth Students’ Union
79. James Redfearn, Vice President, University of Plymouth Students’ Union
80. Haneef Rashid, Vice President, University of Huddersfield Students’ Union
81. Emilie Tapping, Vice President, Kings College London Students’ Union
82. Hannah Wright, Vice President, Bournemouth University Students’ Union
83. Scott Bellamy, Vice President, Bournemouth University Students’ Union
84. Emma Di Iorio, Vice President, University of Bristol Union
85. Sam Hutchinson, Campaigns Officer, University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union
86. Chris Luby, Vice President, Stevenson College Edinburgh
87. Anna Hiscocks, Vice President, Queen Mary University Students’ Union
88. Mazdak Alizadeh, Vice President, University of London Union
89. Thomas Bailey, Activities Officer, University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union
90. Nica de Koenigswarter, Vice President, University of Hertfordshire Students’ Union
91. Mary, Vice President, Liverpool Hope Students’ Union
92. Tori Crapper, Vice President, Lancaster University Students’ Union
93. Michaela Neild, Academic Officer, Cardiff University Students’ Union
94. Olly Birrell, Athletic Union President, Cardiff University Students’ Union
95. Jack Navein, Healthcare Officer, Cardiff University Students’ Union
96. Leejiah Dorward, Environment Officer, Union of UEA Students
97. Lee Gavin, Representation Officer, University for the Creative Arts Students’ Union
98. Roy Bartle, University of the Highlands and Islands Students’ Union
99. Owen Jones, Campaigns Officer, University of Leicester Students’ Union
100. Jodie Lockwood, Vice President, University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union
101. Betasha Case, Vice President, University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union
102. Kelly O’Brien, Vice President, University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union
103. Llywelyn Morris, Education Officer, University of Exeter Students’ Guild
104. Matt Richards, Welfare Officer, University of Exeter Students’ Guild
105. Khaleda Boshir, Vice President, City University Students’ Union
106. Kate Little, Academic Affairs Officer, University of Manchester Students’ Union
107. Evan Beswick, Vice President, Edinburgh University Students’ Association
108. Daniel Curran, Vice President, University of Kent Union
109. Brigid Jones, Vice President, University of Birmingham Guild of Students
110. David Sheppard, Academic Officer, Union of UEA Students
111. Natasha Barnes, Communications Officer, Union of UEA Students
112. Martin Jopp, Finance Officer, Union of UEA Students
113. Tom Sutton, Welfare Officer, Union of UEA Students
114. Steve Godwin, Vice President, Canterbury Christ Church University Students’ Union
115. Pete O’Farrell, Vice President, Edge Hill University Students’ Union
116. Ruth Cannavan, Vice President, Nottingham Trent University Students’ Union
117. Jules Pringle, Vice President, University of Teesside Students’ Union
118. Mark Gillespie, Vice President, University of Teesside Students’ Union
119. Nat Broom, Vice President, University of Teesside Students’ Union
120. Binish Hafeez, Union Council, University of Huddersfield Students’ Union
121. Bindz Patel, Welfare and Education Officer, Goldsmiths Students’ Union
122. Maiken Andreasen, Student Experience Officer, Anglia Ruskin University Students’ Union
123. Kelly Sweeney, Student Experience Officer, Anglia Ruskin University Students’ Union
124. Lisa Pool, Communications Officer, Anglia Ruskin University Students’ Union
125. Emma McLendon, Academic Affairs Officer, Anglia Ruskin University Students’ Union
126. Jessica McCabe, Women’s Officer, Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association
127. Tom Bailey, Activities Officer, University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union
128. Lindsay Bradley, Education Officer, University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union
129. John Crossley, Media Officer,
130. Craig Griffiths, Environment Officer, University College London Students’ Union
131. Ross Clarke, Vice President, Guildhall School Students’ Union
132. Jonny Medland, Access Officer, Oxford University Students’ Union
133. Jack Clemson, Vice President, University of Derby Students’ Union
134. David Coverdale, Courier Editor, Newcastle University
135. Peter Mercer, Student Support Officer, Newcastle University
136. Emma Budge, Education Officer, Newcastle University
137. Vicky Tyas, AU Officer, Newcastle University
138. Georgia Morgan-Wynne, Activities Officer, Newcastle University
139. George Charonis, Vice President, University of Bath Students’ Union 
140. Michael Holder, Communications Officer, University of Sussex Students’ Union
141.  Murray Hope, Vice President, Heriot-Watt University Students’ Association
142. Oliver Howard, Vice President, Chester Students’ Union
143. Samantha Kennedy, Vice President, University of Kent Students’ Unio
144. Nick Maxwell, President, Bridgwater College Students' Union
145. Robert Carr, President, Rose Bruford College Students' Union
146. Tom Chigbo, President, Cambridge University Students' Union
147. Gavin Smith, President, Bishop Grosseteste University College Students’ Union
148. Ryan Blackburn, Vice President, Bishop Grosseteste University College Students’ Union
149. Laura Yeoman, Vice President, University of Hertfordshire Students' Union
150. Katherine Ross, President for Welfare & Equal Opportunities, Aberdeen University Students' Association
151. Heather McKnight, Student President, Jewel & Esk Students' Association
152. Emma Green, Cross-campus President, University of Cumbria Students' Union
153. Liondsaidh NicMhiceil, Executive Officer, University of the Highlands and Islands Students' Union