Aaron Porter is “incable of providing leadership”.
The president of the National Union of Students has refused help to student protesters who are facing eviction from occupied universities, in the NUS’s second dramatic U-turn this week. After being threatened with removal by baliffs, students from UCL called on Aaron Porter, who had earlier pledged legal and financial help to all student occupiers. “”You are our union, and we’re facing a legal bill, you promised us support – we urgently need your help,” said the occupiers.
Porter, who had earlier apologised for “dithering” over whether or not to extend support to student protesters, stammered that he had not meant that kind of support, and that nobody’s legal costs could be covered. The student movement has been holding demonstrations and sit-ins over planned public spending cuts, including proposals to raise tuition fees.
Porter said that when he promised to support and defend the protests, he meant that the NUS could possibly look into the legal status of the occupations and offer some advice.
Students across the country are now calling for the NUS president to resign.
“Time and again the leaders of the NUS have put their political careers before the interests of the students they claim to represent,” said a representative of the UCL and Slade occupations. “After broken promises and chaotic, indecisive leadership, our union has again failed to support its members in the face of the gravest threat to education in decades.”If Aaron Porter is incapable of providing leadership then he should step down,” he said. “We are disappointed in Aaron Porter,” said representatives of the Cambridge occupation, who also contacted the NUS to be told that there would be no legal support available “By offering legal help and not following through, Porter is actually putting students in danger.”Aaron Porter declined to comment. “From our Universities to our government to the NUS, young people are being failed by institutions which are meant to be standing up for us,” said the Cambridge occupiers. “This is why we are waging a campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience.
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