ON MAY 30 the left won the big battle in defence of free state provided education. At the National Union of Students one day special conference it defeated a right wing proposal on education funding.
This is the first time in years that the right has been defeated. The vote went 60:40 in favour of the right to free education.
The left was able to make these gains largely because of the free education campaign. It was organised as a single issue united front coalition and centred on mass action. It was also democratically organised.
The turning point of the conference was probably Clive Lewis' speech. It was a clarion call for international action.
After declaring the need for coordinated protest with students in France, Germany and other European countries he received a standing ovation.
Up to now the democracy of the free education campaign has been one of its strengths. All tendencies have Students can give a lead to the labour movement been allowed the right to express opinions and all decisions taken by majority votes.
It was a shame therefore that at the conference fringe meeting Socialist Outlook and SWP speakers were not aken Things got even worse at the second meeting - comrades from the Alliance for Workers' Liberty announced