A new national student group set up to fight austerity cuts is urging students across the country to attend a rally in London that will be addressed by the Labour politician Tony Benn and writer Owen Jones.
The group, Students' Assembly Against Austerity, is seeking to move the National Union of Students to the left and mobilise students as a more effective political force. They are holding a rally against austerity at University College London on 2 November and are calling on students to support a day of civil disobedience and occupations against austerity on 5 November.
Jones said: "We need a new wave of student resistance." In particular, he said the Assembly would fight against tuition fees, the scrapping of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), students being forced onto zero-hours contracts, and the marketisation of education.
"I've worked with NUS on campaigns and I'm happy to do so again. It's not a rival to the NUS and I hope they will be constructive and supportive. We're trying to build a movement around students to combat the way young people are being hammered by austerity."
The NUS national executive has come under criticism for not reflecting student opinion.
Aaron Kiely, the NUS Black Students officer who is co-organising the event, said: "For several years now, the NUS leadership has failed to take on the government assault head on. We will build the movement that the current NUS leadership is unwilling to build, and fight for an NUS that does all it can to defend student welfare and our education system from government attacks. Current and future students deserve much better from our national movement."
Austerity cuts have meant that 60% of further education colleges have had to close courses, while 70% of institutions have had a drop in applicants.
A nationwide survey of 2,300 undergraduates found that four out of five students "constantly worry about money", most have suffered dietary problems as a result of money shortages, and that one in four would consider selling their body for medical trials or the adult entertainment industry.
