The UCU Left is a national organisation of University and College Union activists. It is committed to ensuring that the new union has a democratic structure through which members can determine policy, and elected officers and professional officials can be held accountable. It seeks to defend educational equality, and to oppose the consequences of neo-liberal marketisation. It is opposed to all forms of racism, sexism, oppression and imperialism.
NEC Election - UK-Elected FE Seats

Brian Ingham (Richmond-upon-Thames College)

Election Address
In FE we have been under-funded, ignored, exploited and taken for granted for far too long. I am standing for a UK-elected FE seat on the UCU executive in order to pursue campaigns that will achieve the following:

  • FE teachers pay to match that of school teachers;


  • FE national pay settlements to be fully funded and binding on all colleges;


  • Stop the introduction of performance related pay;


  • An end to excessive work loads and stress;


  • An end to the burden of excessive administrative;


  • A reversal of the cuts in adult education;


  • No cuts in ESOL provision;


  • FE colleges to be funded on a par with schools;


  • Agency teachers to be offered permanent directly employed jobs;


  • £6,000 London weighting for all London FE teachers - the police get it; FE teachers should get it.


Industrial Disputes - let members decide
Vote for me if you want a far clearer strategy for success during national industrial disputes. Members do not want a ritual of one-day strikes leading nowhere. National conference should agree our pay claims and set out the strategy to win the claim. Further conferences should be held where necessary, once action has taken place, in order to take stock and agree the next stages of our campaigns. Putting faith in the ordinary members is the way to build unity and confidence; it is the way to win.

We have the privilege of working with diverse and challenging students, many from some of the most deprived sections of our society. We make a difference, often a decisive difference, to people’s lives. Tragically, however, FE’s positive educational role is constantly threatened, constantly undermined.

We face a government that is Labour in name but broadly Tory in its educational policies, fostering insane competition between colleges, within an atmosphere of uncertainty and cuts. We face the Association of Colleges, the body that signs agreements on behalf of individual colleges before inviting individual colleges to break the agreements it has just signed. We also face college principals who act as conduits, passing pressures from on high down onto ordinary members of staff, college principals with lavish earnings who fail to implement agreed deals, many employing agency labour to avoid legislative responsibilities.

An alternative to market-driven educational policies
As London FE chair, I have played a leading part in the campaigning activity of the London region. Recently I have been proud to help draft the 'Manifesto for Further Education'. With contributions from all regions, I would like this Manifesto to be adopted as our national programme for Further Education.

The UCU is potentially powerful. We have the alternative to market-driven educational policies, to those who put an illegal war before education. Our members have a commitment to their students, passion for this sector and a burning sense of injustice. On the NEC, I will do all I can to help build unity and strong effective leadership so the UCU can become the kind of union we all need it to be.

Biographical information including service to the union

Since 1995, I have taught at Richmond-upon Thames College, with a two year break when I was a PR manager. My NATFHE membership remained continuous.

UCU Regional Experience:
Helped to develop a campaigning FE Region. The Region has co-ordinated activity on pay and against cuts in adult education.

  • London FE Regional Chair – 2004-present


  • Helped to write the 'Manifesto for Further Education'


  • London FE Regional Secretary – 2002-2004


  • London Regional Executive – 2000-2002


  • Secretary of London Weighting Campaign - 2000-2002, a campaign now fully back on the agenda.


UCU Branch Experience:
Helped to lead strong branch to successes. This includes securing the National Modernising Pay and preventing the last Principal attacking Programme Managers’ holidays: the branch knew that success against PMs would place all members’ holidays in jeopardy. Successful united industrial action on pay and London Weighting demonstrated the branch’s strength.

  • Branch Chair – 2001-present


  • Branch Negotiator (two very different Principals)


  • Branch UCU Magazine Editor


  • National Conference Delegate - 2004-2006


Campaigning against discrimination and for equality:
  • In my youth: Labour Party Young Socialists National Committee.


  • Organised official national march against racism, in Bradford (among first such events by a national labour movement body). I wrote the campaigning literature.


  • Remain completely politically committed to the fight for equality and the struggle against all forms of discrimination.

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