Lecturers at Goldsmiths university have evoked a furious response from Downing Street after they signed a statement backing students and attacking the divisive and counterproductive statements issued by the UCU and NUS leadership.

London’s right wing free newspaper The Evening Standard claimed:

University lecturers in London sparked outrage today by supporting the student protesters who stormed Tory HQ…Downing Street reacted furiously to their statement, condemning it as “irresponsible”. The document was signed by John Wadsworth, Goldsmiths lecturers’ union president and a senior lecturer in education, and Des Freedman, a lecturer in communications and cultural studies.

The real outrage is that a minority Tory government has embarked on a massive programme of cuts for which it has no popular mandate and which target the poorest and most vulnerable people in society. It is supported by Lib Dem MP’s who won their seats after pledging not to raise fees only to betray those who elected them.

The Statement in full

We the undersigned wish to congratulate staff and students on the magnificent anti-cuts demonstration this afternoon. At least 50,000 people took to the streets to oppose the coalition government’s devastating
proposals for education.

We also wish to condemn and distance ourselves from the divisive and, in our view, counterproductive statements issued by the UCU and NUS leadership concerning the occupation of the Conservative Party HQ.

The real violence in this situation relates not to a smashed window but to the destructive impact of the cuts and privatisation that will follow if tuition fees are increased and if massive reductions in HE funding are
implemented.

Today’s events demonstrate the deep hostility in the UK towards the cuts proposed in the Comprehensive Spending Review. We hope that this marks the beginning of a sustained defence of public services and welfare provision as well as higher education.

We are calling a meeting to discuss further anti-cuts activities this Monday, 15 November, 1pm, in RHB 143.

John Wadsworth, President GUCU
Des Freedman, Secretary GUCU