Daniel Snowdon

Today I am calling upon all Postgraduates to defend the NPC. For about a year the current leadership have been conspiring with the NUS to dissolve the NPC, therefore leaving all UK Postgraduates with NO academic representation to turn to should they need it. Moreover the behind the scenes work that the NPC had done prior to this year is under threat as there would be no continued representation of postgraduates on major decision making bodies within the Higher Education sector.

It has been reported to me that very little work has been done this year and as a result, the name and reputation of the NPC have been tarnished. The day to day work of the NPC normally includes: collection of affiliation fees, attending and organising Ordinary General Meetings, Management Sub-Committee meetings, policy responses, meetings with local postgrad reps and unions.


Hence, I would urge all Postgraduates to go along to the Annual General Meeting of the NPC at Keele University on 11th September 2009, and vote against the proposal for dissolution in order to save the representation of Postgraduates in the UK.

It is with great sadness to learn of the sudden death of Cllr Chris Dunlop (Nonsuch Ward, London Borough of Sutton). Whatever party one is a member of, it is always difficult to come to terms with the death of someone who served the community and put a lot of effort into being an elected local Councillor.

My thoughts are naturally with his family. I hope that the Dunlop family and friends of Chris can find strength at this difficult time.

I send my profound condolences.

I attended the Cheam North and Worcester Park local committee of Sutton Council 18/12/2008. On the agenda, there was an item on the budget proposals for 2009/2010. The Council leaders wanted to give local residents who were present a chance to convey their views directly to the committee about the proposals. However, one of the members, Cllr Richard Butt requested that the item be withdrawn as he believed that it was not an issue specific to the area. Furthermore, he asserted that the budget would affect the whole of the Borough of Sutton.

I can see his point, but people very rarely have an opportunity to directly influence the decisions that could have a profound affect on them. I think that we would have had a productive session on this and that those present could have made a positive contribution to the consultation process.

What do you think? Should Borough wide issues be discussed at Local Committees or should these issues remain under the auspices of the full meeting of Local Authorities?

Yes, you read the title correctly. The Liberal Democrats have a huge chance of crowning either Labour or the Conservatives with the keys of power at Westminster.

According to a report in the Independent on Sunday (14/9/2008), Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg, could be the "Kingmaker" for either David Cameron, current Leader of the Conservatives, or for whoever the Leader of the Labour Party will be come the next General Election.


The article does concede that the Tories are looking very good in the polls, however, the electoral system would probably reduce any chance of a majority in Parliament on a par with the first Blair Government. Add to that, the chance of Labour selecting a new leader before a General Election could result in what is known as a "hung" Parliament.

Hence, whoever wins the General Election between Labour and the Tories, are likely to need the support of the Liberal Democrats. So, all that remains now is to see where the path of British politics goes from here.

Will there be a Labour leadership contest before the next General Election? If this happens (more than likely) then we will possibly see a few Liberal Democrat MP's in Government.

I would like to congratulate our candidates who finished 2nd in both the recent by-elections.

We slashed the majorities that Labour had as well as officially being recognised as the credible opposition to the Labour Government.

People want results and progress, not spin and cheesy catchphrases.

Sorry fellow bloggers for not blogging as often as i should.

I have started my job at ULU as VP Welfare and Student Affairs.

I will blog about the Italian football crisis as and when they deliver the result of the court hearing.

The 13.1% pay rise has been agreed between UCU and UCEA.

But will this be the end?

There will now be a ballot of the members to determine if the lecturers accept the resolved pay increase by UCEA.

Unbelievable........

I am really disgusted and shocked about this fact.

This means that this strike action can potentially last another three months. Well past the date for graduation.

Looks like there will be a lot of casework as far as welfare is concerned for constituent students' unions up and down the country.

John "Two Shags" Prescott has finally got support from his own party.

The tarnished reputation of Prescott has been caused by owning shacks, buying Jags, and having shags.

Come on, give me a break, Prescott has had it. He will either resign or be forced out within two weeks.

His reputation within the party and more importantly the country has been severely destroyed.

A friend of mine and fellow blogger Tim Roll-Pickering also questions the credibility of John Prescott.

The Burmese Government has extended the house arrest of the Real Leader, opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

We all talk about great people, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill and the Delai Lama. But we forget others who have achieved just as much.

Aung San Suu Kyi has worked to try and achieve democracy by peaceful methods against military rule. Her determination to do this has won her world wide recognition. She is a Nobel Peace prize winner and despite being subjected to house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi has still managed to make contact with her people.

This is one woman who I personally would not mind running our country because at least she cares about her people. Take note Tony and George.