Deformed apples, cannabis and death: our last day in Blackpool
Final day, and people have been leaving throughout the morning to catch the next train out, complete with their free packed lunches consisting of ham sandwich, a deformed apple, a bag of crisps and some disgusting peach-flavoured water. Open place elections were held for the SWD committee along with the election for SWD rep on NUS National Council.
Much of the day was taken up with motion discussions, most notably on assisted dying. There were many impassioned speeches on all sides. Perhaps controversially, conference backed a motion (with its amendment) to back the campaign for controlled assisted dying for those with a terminal illness.
A series of four emergency motions were also passed, one of which has the NUS backing the campaign for legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes.
However, it was a motion placed by steering committee which saw many get worked up, with a motion proposing a cut in the number of women's and open places on the SWD committee. This was due to conference (on the Monday) having decided to vote through a number of changes which would have altered the size of the committee to 9. This would then have meant going through the rigmarole of going for a constitutional amendment, which would have been a lengthy and unpredictable journey. Therefore, steering proposed a motion which would only have required alteration to the standing orders - far easier. The question is, should a neutral body as steering is supposed to be table motions like this? Confused? I was. Seems the NUS just can't get enough of rules, procedures and paperwork.
Having reached the end, conference saw much hard hitting and constructive debate and dialogue. The SWD committee has many controversial issues to campaign on. We will watch carefully to see how, and if, they are achieved.
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