NUS presidents, now and then

Jack Straw, president from 1969-71 Photograph: PA

Jack Straw speaking in the House of Commons as John Prescott and Tony Blair look on. In June 2007 he was appointed secretary of state for justice and lord chancellor Photograph: PA

Charles Clarke, president from 1975-77, addressing London School of Economics students Photograph: E Hamilton West/Guardian

Charles Clarke, home secretary from 2004-2006 Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/Murdo MacLeod

Sue Slipman, the first female NUS president, in office from 1977-1978. Slipman is currently director of the Foundation Trust Network Photograph: PA

Trevor Phillips, the first black NUS president, who held the post from 1978-80 Photograph: PA

Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality Photograph: PA

David Aaronovitch, president from 1980-82. in 1975 Aaronovitch appeared on University Challenge, representing Manchester. They lost in the first round after answering most questions with the name of revolutionaries, such as 'Trotsky', 'Lenin' and 'Marx'. Apparently this was a protest against Oxford and Cambridge being allowed to enter individual colleges Photograph: Rex

David Aaronovitch, journalist, broadcaster and author. In 2001 Aaronovitch won the George Orwell prize for political journalism Photograph: Sarah Lee

Stephen Twigg, president from 1990-92 and currently director of the Foreign Policy Centre. Twigg, pictured here behind Michael Portillo, served as MP for Enfield Southgate from 1997-2005, after hs infamous defeat of the Tory MP in the 1997 general election Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Wes Streeting, who this month succeeded Gemma Tumelty as president. Brought up by a single mother in an East End council estate in Tower Hamlets, London, Streeting went on to read history at Cambridge University Photograph: Graham Turner/Guardian