Birmingham University Labour Students

We hold a number of events and socials throughout the year, aimed at bringing our campaigns to the students of Birmingham University and the people of Birmingham, as well as increasing our members’ political knowledge and engaging our members in campaigns. Take a look below for details of some of our events.

Jim Murphy Drops in

BULS has been lucky enough over the last year to be visited by several senior government figures. Jim Murphy, Minister for Europe paid us a visit in March to talk with club members- we took him to the Chamon in return.

Let’s Talk Child Poverty with Ed Balls

As part of the priority campaign ‘Make Child Poverty History’ we invited Ed Balls to address the club on what can be done in the UK and internationally to address this. It was recognised that the Labour government since 1997 has helped over 700,000 children out of poverty, however there is still much to be done. Among other things BULS members called for a school uniform grant for deprived families and an increase in child benefits. The event was chaired by the NEC Youth Rep, Stephanie Peacock, and the event was followed by informal drinks in Joes. The event was incredibly interesting, particularly to see how poverty and deprivation are being addressed by the Labour government.

Second annual trip to Parliament

In what is becoming a yearly tradition for BULS we organised a second trip to Parliament, this time with the aid of Lyn Jones, the MP for Selly Oak. With some luck we managed to listen in to the debate on Trident and in the picture below you can see our collective delight at the vote… This year we also had access to the House of Lords thanks to Lord Hunt of Kings Heath.

Labour vs Conservative Future football match

Young Labour and Labour Students took on the supposed might of Birmingham University Conservative Future in a 6-a-side football game at the University in mid-December. The event was held to raise awareness of the Make Child Benefit Count campaign run by the Child Poverty Action Group in conjunction with Labour Students. It was reassuring to see so many Conservative Future members (approximately 5) come out in aid of a cause that their party clearly has no interest in.

The result was an enormous success for both the campaign (we collected hundreds of signatures and a lot of support for the campaign), as well as for Labour (we beat Conservative Future 8-0).

Following the football match, many Labour Students went on to a debate hosted by the debating society, which saw Conservative Future propose, along with the Tory MP Peter Lilley, that immigration controls should be tightened. Despite a strong showing by CF members and varying degrees of rhetoric-spouting, the motion was defeated by a strong Labour Students presence and a strong measure of common sense and anti-xenophobia in the chamber.

Curry nights!

Never able to turn down the prospect of a good curry (or pizza, or anything else for that matter), we organise a number of meals and informal drinks sessions each term with local MPs and other politicians. Recent events have included a Christmas Meal with Sion Simon MP (Birmingham Erdington), as well as a new members reception and curry night with Steve McCabe MP (Birmingham Hall Green) and Gisela Stuart MP (Birmingham Edgbaston) - see picture, right. We are able to call on a number of local and national politicians for events, both formal and informal and all events are opened up to our members.

Local campaigning

Despite our strong record on campaigning for student issues, BULS has a proud record in campaigning to return local Labour representatives to Parliament and council, as well as running campaigns against deplorable and fascist parties such as the BNP. We regularly campaign in the Edgbaston constituency, which was taken from the Tories in 1997 and has remained with Labour ever since, with the help of the Labour Club. With the continued support of BULS, it looks to remain a Labour seat for a long time to come. We also take part in by-elections all over the country, such as the Hodge Hill by-election in 2004, and later the Hartlepool and Blaenau Gwent by-elections. On top of all that, we have been involved in campaigning against the BNP in areas such as Dudley and Stoke-on-Trent.

Parliament visits

As a political society, we organise not just socials and campaign events, but also informative political education events. One such event was a tour of Parliament hosted by Gisela Stuart MP. The picture shows BULS members outside the gates of Downing Street, just before we walked up Whitehall to climb up the many steps to Big Ben. Events such as our House of Commons trips are open to all members of the society.

We organise regular trips to parliament and to political events in London, such as talks and debates at London embassies. Please contact us if you would like further information!

Ladies in Red reception

Ladies in Red was a concept pioneered by BUGS in 2005, and has since gone from strength to strength, with Labour Clubs and local constituencies up and down the country organising similar events to bring together women interested in politics with local women MPs, councillors and other representatives. BULS latest Ladies in Red was help in November 2006, and heard speeches from Sylvia Heal MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons; Emily Richards, Labour Students National Women’s Officer; and Jacqueline Abbott, former Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The event was also attended by Gisela Stuart MP, and various Birmingham City Councillors.

Marching against raising the cap on fees

Labour Students is at the forefront of campaigning on issues that are important to students, even when those campaigns are significantly at odds with government policy. We campaigned against the introduction of top-up fees, and brought the government to within only a few votes of having to abandon top-up fees. Unfortunately, top-up fees are apparently here to stay, but that does not stop us campaigning against any increase in the current cap on tuition fees. To show our support for this, BULS joined a number of friends from around the Guild of Students in the NUS march on London in October.