Joel Kenrick's speech

For the past year it has been my privilege to serve as your Treasurer. I have tried to serve you well, and deliver on my promises - more money for societies. a stronger Advice Centre. a campaigning Union. A strategic plan for our future.

Yet there is much to be done.

Under my leadership we would be a different kind of Union.

We sometimes seem too content to sit back, managing the decline of our student voice. More interested in managing relations with the School than fighting for our students.

My campaign is about reclaiming our values, our strength and our dreams. Restoring our sense of common purpose. Together few obstacles can withstand the unified power of our voices calling for change.

It is time for our Union to stand together in solidarity with all of our members.

We should drive the campaign to make a further education once more affordable to all, to keep the cap, for free prescriptions and extending travel discounts.

We should vigorously fight against the chant of 'extremism on campus' which so often leads to the unfair, unjust and unfounded victimization of our black and ethnic minority students.

For too long post-graduates have been sidelined, but I’ll fight hard for their rights. We should campaign to improve their teaching, support GTAs, end the unfair application and deferral charges. I’d lead a nationwide campaign to extend cheap Student Loans to postgraduate students.

Our Union, with students from over 140 countries, must be an internationalist Union, unafraid to show real support for students suffering under oppression or occupation around the world, and willing to stand up against those complicit in their pain.

The LSE was founded 112 years ago for the betterment of society by Fabians to understand the causes of things.

We are a social science university, not a business school. As a Union we should never forget this.

Lets lead the way in a new way of thinking which puts a concern for poverty, inequality, human rights and the environment at the heart of all our actions.

I'm in it to win it. To win for students who care.

To win for student solidarity and a return to the days when the LSE Students' Union was taken seriously as a persuasive force for powerful, positive change.

United we’re unbeatable. United we will win.

Next week vote with your heart. Vote with your wallet. Vote for the future.

Whoever you vote for use your vote wisely. And never forget the powerful, active and campaigning Union that we can become.

Thank you.