Wes Streeting
Encyclopedia
Wesley "Wes" Paul William Streeting (born 21 January 1983) is Chief Executive of the Helena Kennedy Foundation, an educational charity that promotes access to higher education to students from further education colleges through bursaries, mentoring and work placements. He is also a Labour councillor in the London Borough of Redbridge and is a former National President of the National Union of Students (NUS) in the United Kingdom
.
, Streeting attended Westminster City School
, a voluntary aided, Christian school in Victoria, central London.
Streeting is a graduate of the University of Cambridge
, where he read History at Selwyn College
. He served as the President of the Cambridge University Students' Union
for 2004-5, and as Selwyn College's Entertainments' Officer and Junior Common Room
President.
After graduating Streeting worked for the Labour Party
-related Progress organisation
for a year.
. He beat his closest rival Ciarán Norris, an independent candidate, in the fourth round of voting by 496 votes to 376 after the elimination of Daniel Randall, the Education Not for Sale
candidate and the NUS Black Students' Officer, Ruqayyah Collector, who stood as a candidate of the Student Broad Left
. He had been a member of the NUS National Executive Committee since 2005, having previously held the post of Vice President (Education) from 2006-08.
In April 2009, Streeting was elected to a second term after a landslide victory against Rob Owen, a member of the Socialist Worker Student Society and member of the Another Union Is Possible slate, by 631 votes to 140. The same conference also reaffirmed NUS' new stance on higher education funding. More controversially, it voted to support moves to introduce minimum pricing of alcohol, prompting concerns about the impact on students and students' unions.
As Vice-President of NUS, Streeting was a strong proponent of his predecessor Gemma Tumelty
's proposed reforms to the NUS governance structures, which had been denounced and narrowly defeated by many left wing groups in NUS as an attack on NUS democracy. His election was reported by The Guardian
newspaper as 'a move that will lend weight to the fight to modernise the union' and within seven months of taking office, revised reform proposals were submitted, passed and ratified by two extraordinary conferences to adopt the new constitution. Critics have argued, however, that the conferences were undemocratic, with a significant number of delegates not having been elected by cross-campus ballot. A large proportion of FE colleges were also unable to attend.
He was a leading figure in efforts to change the NUS' position on higher education funding in advance of the Government's 2009/10 independent review of Higher Education Funding in England. The NUS now opposes lifting the current cap of £3,145 on student fees instead of calling for free education entirely, although it remains implacably opposed to the current top-up fees system. In June 2009, NUS published an alternative model for funding universities. This system, which NUS calls a 'progressive graduate contribution' would generate double the revenue of the current top-up fee arrangements by collecting a progressive contribution linked to graduates' earnings for a fixed period of twenty years into a so-called 'People's Trust For Higher Education' which would then release funding to universities through the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The publication was welcomed by the higher education sector as a serious contribution, but it has attracted critics from the left and the right.
As NUS President, Streeting was a non-executive director of the NUS' trading arm, NUS Services Ltd and of Endsleigh Insurance Services Ltd. He was also a non-executive director of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), as well as the Higher Education academy, having served on their board as Vice President (Education) when he was also a non-executive director of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE). Shortly after his election as NUS President, Streeting was appointed as a member of the government's Youth Citizenship Commission
, chaired by Professor Jonathan Tonge of Liverpool University, which published its report in June 2009.
His membership of Labour Students
and strong support for the Labour Party
have led to charges by Streeting's opponents that he is too close to the Brown government, though Streeting denies this and says he will defend students' interests regardless. He is a member of the Labour Students' National Committee. In March 2009 Pink News
listed him as the 33rd most powerful LGBT
politician in the UK. In 2009 Wes chaired the Question Time Panel at National Student Pride in Brighton.
councillor on Redbridge London Borough Council
, for the Chadwell ward, in a July 2010 by-election, holding the seat for Labour by 220 votes, and winning with 31.5% of the vote (a fall of 1.4% for Labour in the ward) on a 25.5% turnout (a fall of 34.5% in turnout). The by-election had been triggered by a previous Labour candidate having been elected two months earlier when he was ineligible to serve on the council. As a result of his election, Streeting gave up his job as a public sector consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as Redbridge Council was a current audit client of the firm, forcing Streeting to choose between keeping his job or forcing a second by-election.
Shortly after leaving PwC, Streeting was appointed as Head of Policy and Strategic Communications for Oona King
's unsuccessful bid to win the Labour Party's nomination to be their candidate in the 2012 London Mayoral election
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early life & Education
Born in Tower HamletsLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
, Streeting attended Westminster City School
Westminster City School
Westminster City School is a voluntary aided Christian school for boys in Westminster, London. The school has 800 students on its roll, and it offers 105 of 130 places each year to boys practising the Christian faith in the Anglican dioceses of London and Southwark. The other 25 spaces are...
, a voluntary aided, Christian school in Victoria, central London.
Streeting is a graduate of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he read History at Selwyn College
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
. He served as the President of the Cambridge University Students' Union
Cambridge University Students' Union
Cambridge University Students' Union is the university-wide representative body for students at the University of Cambridge, England...
for 2004-5, and as Selwyn College's Entertainments' Officer and Junior Common Room
Common Room (university)
In some universities in the United Kingdom — particularly collegiate universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Durham — students and the academic body are organised into common rooms...
President.
After graduating Streeting worked for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
-related Progress organisation
Progress (organisation)
Progress is a political organisation linked to the Labour Party in the United Kingdom, founded in 1996. It is broadly viewed as supportive of the leadership of the party, being pro-former leader Tony Blair...
for a year.
NUS President
Streeting was elected as NUS President in April 2008 as a candidate from Labour StudentsLabour Students
Labour Students is a student organisation affiliated to the British Labour Party.Membership comprises affiliated college and university clubs . Membership of Labour Students is through membership of a university or college Labour Club. Affiliation is open to any Labour Club generally supportive of...
. He beat his closest rival Ciarán Norris, an independent candidate, in the fourth round of voting by 496 votes to 376 after the elimination of Daniel Randall, the Education Not for Sale
Education Not for Sale
Education Not for Sale is a radical left-wing student campaign in the United Kingdom.The name originally derives from the "European Education Not for Sale network" and was first used by socialist and other radical activists at the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom conference in...
candidate and the NUS Black Students' Officer, Ruqayyah Collector, who stood as a candidate of the Student Broad Left
Student Broad Left
Student Broad Left is a factional grouping operating within the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom.The group was formed in 1997 as a split from the Campaign for Free Education and first contested NUS elections in 1998...
. He had been a member of the NUS National Executive Committee since 2005, having previously held the post of Vice President (Education) from 2006-08.
In April 2009, Streeting was elected to a second term after a landslide victory against Rob Owen, a member of the Socialist Worker Student Society and member of the Another Union Is Possible slate, by 631 votes to 140. The same conference also reaffirmed NUS' new stance on higher education funding. More controversially, it voted to support moves to introduce minimum pricing of alcohol, prompting concerns about the impact on students and students' unions.
As Vice-President of NUS, Streeting was a strong proponent of his predecessor Gemma Tumelty
Gemma Tumelty
Gemma Tumelty was the President of the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom until 2008. She was the NUS National Secretary for 2005 to 2006, and a member of its National Executive Committee for two years before that.-Early life:She comes from Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
's proposed reforms to the NUS governance structures, which had been denounced and narrowly defeated by many left wing groups in NUS as an attack on NUS democracy. His election was reported by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper as 'a move that will lend weight to the fight to modernise the union' and within seven months of taking office, revised reform proposals were submitted, passed and ratified by two extraordinary conferences to adopt the new constitution. Critics have argued, however, that the conferences were undemocratic, with a significant number of delegates not having been elected by cross-campus ballot. A large proportion of FE colleges were also unable to attend.
He was a leading figure in efforts to change the NUS' position on higher education funding in advance of the Government's 2009/10 independent review of Higher Education Funding in England. The NUS now opposes lifting the current cap of £3,145 on student fees instead of calling for free education entirely, although it remains implacably opposed to the current top-up fees system. In June 2009, NUS published an alternative model for funding universities. This system, which NUS calls a 'progressive graduate contribution' would generate double the revenue of the current top-up fee arrangements by collecting a progressive contribution linked to graduates' earnings for a fixed period of twenty years into a so-called 'People's Trust For Higher Education' which would then release funding to universities through the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The publication was welcomed by the higher education sector as a serious contribution, but it has attracted critics from the left and the right.
As NUS President, Streeting was a non-executive director of the NUS' trading arm, NUS Services Ltd and of Endsleigh Insurance Services Ltd. He was also a non-executive director of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), as well as the Higher Education academy, having served on their board as Vice President (Education) when he was also a non-executive director of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE). Shortly after his election as NUS President, Streeting was appointed as a member of the government's Youth Citizenship Commission
Youth Citizenship Commission
The Youth Citizenship Commission is a commission created in the United Kingdom to promote youth participation in the political process and to foster youth education in citizenship. It was created in response to the July 2007 publication of the Governance of Britain Green Paper, which pointed out...
, chaired by Professor Jonathan Tonge of Liverpool University, which published its report in June 2009.
His membership of Labour Students
Labour Students
Labour Students is a student organisation affiliated to the British Labour Party.Membership comprises affiliated college and university clubs . Membership of Labour Students is through membership of a university or college Labour Club. Affiliation is open to any Labour Club generally supportive of...
and strong support for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
have led to charges by Streeting's opponents that he is too close to the Brown government, though Streeting denies this and says he will defend students' interests regardless. He is a member of the Labour Students' National Committee. In March 2009 Pink News
Pink News
Pink News is a United Kingdom-based online gay newspaper.The paper version, The Pink News, officially launched at the Law Society on 28 June 2006 by Francis Maude, Chairman of the Conservative Party, Meg Munn, Minister for Equality, Simon Hughes, President of the Liberal Democrats and Meg Hillier,...
listed him as the 33rd most powerful LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
politician in the UK. In 2009 Wes chaired the Question Time Panel at National Student Pride in Brighton.
Councillor: 2010–present
Upon leaving NUS, Wes Streeting was elected as a Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
councillor on Redbridge London Borough Council
Redbridge London Borough Council
Redbridge London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Redbridge in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Redbridge is divided into 21 wards and elects 63 councillors...
, for the Chadwell ward, in a July 2010 by-election, holding the seat for Labour by 220 votes, and winning with 31.5% of the vote (a fall of 1.4% for Labour in the ward) on a 25.5% turnout (a fall of 34.5% in turnout). The by-election had been triggered by a previous Labour candidate having been elected two months earlier when he was ineligible to serve on the council. As a result of his election, Streeting gave up his job as a public sector consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as Redbridge Council was a current audit client of the firm, forcing Streeting to choose between keeping his job or forcing a second by-election.
Shortly after leaving PwC, Streeting was appointed as Head of Policy and Strategic Communications for Oona King
Oona King
Oona Tamsyn King, Baroness King of Bow is a Baroness and Member of the House of Lords, and former Chief Diversity Officer of Channel 4. She previously had served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow from 1997 until 2005, when she was defeated by Respect candidate George...
's unsuccessful bid to win the Labour Party's nomination to be their candidate in the 2012 London Mayoral election
London mayoral election, 2012
The 2012 London mayoral election will be held on Thursday 3 May 2012 to elect the Mayor of London. It will be the fourth such election since the post of Mayor of London was started in 2000...
.
External links
- Wes Streeting's blog
- Interview with Tiger Television at Birmingham City UniversityBirmingham City UniversityBirmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...