The UCL Labour Society is off to a rocky start to the new academic year as its handful of remaining members complain about the ‘lack of clear leadership’.
Robert Delaney Online Editor
The UCL Labour Society has been a bastion of student politics at the University since the 1940s, with many former members going on to join the party ranks and the political world at large. However, it seems that the torrid start to the new Labour Government has turned many a fresher off joining UCL’s Blairite HQ…
Running on empty
Today, UCL Labour is in disarray. Participation appears to have fallen quicker than the Labour’s poll lead and only four of its 10 committee positions have been filled.
In comparison, last year’s full committee led by Martin Barabas, now Communications Officer for the Labour MP for Croydon West, established links with Labour societies at KCL, LSE, Goldsmiths, and City St George’s, playing a key role in the formation of the London Labour Student Network (LLSN), one of the largest cross-university political societies in the UK.
Despite last year’s success, many freshers seem to be disinterested in joining the society due to its association with a rather unpopular government. The lack of UCL attendance at cross-university events attended by Cheese Grater journalists was notable. A Labour-supporting fresher who attended the LLSN freshers’ pub crawl on 27 September told The Cheese Grater that ‘there was no one from UCL there at all’. So who, or what, is to blame for this apparent downturn in participation?
‘Lack of clear leadership’
One UCL Labour member noted that the parliamentary party’s position on the biggest political issues of the day, namely, ‘the war in Palestine’, has impacted the extent to which young people want to attach themselves to the party in any way.
Moreover, the absence of a clear goal to ‘get the Tories out’ seems to have made people more interested in alternative political avenues than the UCL Labour Society.
While UCL Labour is not officially affiliated with the Labour Party, it nonetheless actively campaigns and advocates for Labour Party politicians and policies.
Another UCL Labour member told The Cheese Grater that ‘the lack of clear leadership’ and ‘a term card outlining the society’s plans’ has left students a bit puzzled with how the society now works, and is perhaps to blame for ‘UCL Labour’s… slow start to the new term’, echoing their national equivalent.
One quick look at UCL Labour’s latest Instagram posts will explain why some students are left confused and uninterested. Rather than doing… typical Labour things, UCL Labour have decided to kick off the new academic year with a joint event titled ‘UK Aid Policy Consultation: Engagement Workshop’ alongside the UCL Effective Altruism Society, which is hardly free of controversy, to say the least.
UCL Labour committee members have confirmed that more events are now in the works after the slow start to the year.
It should also be noted that the President of UCL Labour, Joey Mehta, is also the President of the UCL Liberal Democrat Society. Aside from the blatant conflict of interest, one source in a neighbouring Labour Society has told The Cheese Grater that other Labour Society presidents across London had told Mehta to ‘pick a side’ after society elections last year which, evidently, has fallen on deaf ears.
Only U-CL?
Despite the reported downturn of interest in UCL Labour, neighbouring Labour societies appear to be thriving.
KCL Labour secured ex-Labour Leader Neil Kinnock for a talk on Wednesday 9 October which was attended by well over 60 KCL society members. The comrades on the Strand also led the charge at the LLSN freshers’ pub crawl, bringing approximately 30 people along.
LSE Labour also seems to be doing better than last year, with sources indicating that participation is higher than in recent years.
The future for UCL Labour is unclear, but things can only get better. Indeed, unlike their Conservative counterparts, UCL Labour doesn’t seem destined for a suspension from the Students’ Union anytime soon, so at least there’s some cause for optimism.
The President of UCL Labour Joey Mehta responded with the following comment:
‘As President of the society, I accept my responsibility in the slower start to the year that we have had.
‘However, I would dispute the downturn in interest. I was at the welcome fair alongside my VP and Treasurer and we can attest to the many positive discussions we had.
‘They have been pushing me to do more and we have many events in the works.
‘I look forward to the year ahead and I’m sure it will be a successful one for the society.’
Update (14/10): This article has been edited to include the fact that Joey Mehta is also the President of UCL Liberal Democrats.