There are no officer elections at this year’s National Union of Students’ annual conference in Harrogate.
These days it elects office holders on two-year terms – and having terminated the contract of last year’s President winner Shaima Dallali late last year, its board has resolved to leave the post vacant until next summer.
Officially that’s because it says it would be “inappropriate and irresponsible” to run an election before implementing changes recommended by the KC that led its inquiry into antisemitism – although not having to hold what would have doubtless become a defacto referendum on the handling of that affair is likely to have also been a consideration.
Having had to junk last year’s NUS 100 celebration, the event will open with a discussion marking 50 years of NUS-USI – a jointly supported autonomous body established in Belfast under a unique arrangement between NUS UK and the Union of Students in Ireland that provided a blueprint for the Good Friday Agreement 26 years later.
