'NUS has to stand up and fight Tories'

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Jat= Moore is a pars-time Intribe: of ihe erecative of LETER Laios CADMITE Soraür TT limme sarni Ir DUnd Mo! VIz S 5 SIR dik ttra I: Eve the NU'S a group * a left executive mem=es sho will argue the as for action up and down == country.

NES has always passed *atively good policy on sies like cuts, but it has sie: really been imple==Lied. Most action has ser= ioten action.

Now the Tory govern=ess is intent on dismantl= ruther and highzr edu*ac and the grant sys== as tell as its other Fair policies on nuclear pater and reapons.

NU'S has to stand up and Fe ide bastle against I RI To do this sacerThe aspee: to run must be designed to win, and not just token protests.

The people who say that students can't win anything by themselves are wrong. Minor gains can be made by students by themselves. But if we are to defend the whole of the education system against the Tory attacks, then it's got to be by united action with the people who work in the colleges.

Unity has got to be built in action, otherwise it's a false unity. That's why occupations are a good tacsic. which puts the campus ince or the spos.

07= 105 = m÷_ a sullus and ASLEF participated.

We've got to look for unity in colleges and among the wider working class.

WHAT'S coming up at NUS conference?

The main policy debates are on further education, government economic policy, lesbian and gay liberation, and women.

Politically the most contentious is lesbian and gay liberation, and we should not underestimate the success of the activists who got it prioritised for debate.

What I hope will come out c: this is an acceptance ira: lesbia: and gay liber- .. = sonica. priorty TE E 13022 s90uc position comes from the exec and NOLS Ithe National Organisation of Labour Students), and that's the Alternative Economic Strategy.

There are a couple of interesting amendments. One from the SWP says there is no difference between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, which illustraies to the majority of students that the SWP has given up political analysis for good.

There's also a position on calling for an NUS campaign for a Labour vote. and that's going to be rem srongly opposed by die cationa erecutive.

WHAT do sou think irai ===** 0: acocher 12:055 of loans. agonicE pulsor membership student unions. and the reduction of funds to student unions.

Basically students and student unions will be subject to a full-scale attack. We've got to do everything within our power to make sure they den't get in, and I certainly have always argued that should vote Labour.

DO YOU think it would be wrong for NUS to call for a Labour vote?

No. But whatever government gets elected, we still have to mobilise. If it's the Tories. then it will be to get them off our back. If it's Labour. well. I'm sure that the manifesto will have a fet gondies to attract the vi to student vote, espicia.! in the t2 marginas shere the student vote is decisive. But the government won't just give them to us. We'll still have to campaign long and hard for them.

We'll also have to mobilise to ensure nuclear disarmament.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE NOLS backing Jane Taylor of the Left Alliance (Communist Party, Liberals and fellow-travellers) for national secretary instead of yourself?

Essentially NOLS believe that there is a need for the NUS right wing (the Left Alliance) to have a fulltime officer on the national exec. I totally reject this idea, particularly now when we are going to be involved in a big fight.

It's a tactical decision by NOLS to try to cover themselves trom attacks trom the right. These will come anyway - from Tories inside and outside of NUS. Any attempt to placate the right wing will be futile.

I believe that NOLS delegates to NUS conference will see this, and instead vote for a socialist.

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125, March 24,1983, Page 3