He has previously been accused of being 'racist' and 'Islamphobic' by a member of the organisation's NEC (National Executive Council). Brooks denied these claims and asked that his actions be investigated by an independent investigator, saying "I decided that there was no way to win that war – far left candidates electioneering and anti-Semites who troll anyone mentioned with the word Israel next to their name tend to not be entirely reasonable".
This is what the far left do when they believe they’re about to lose power. They hop into bed with the nastiest racists, misogynists and bullies around. They convince themselves they are champions of equality, messiahs of social justice, but their actions have the opposite effect and their attitudes sow toxicity across the movement.
In response to claims he colluded with the Israeli embassy, Brooks said: "I do not work on behalf of the Israeli Government. I have never met anyone from the Israeli Government. I have not accepted funds from the Israeli Government. It is a lie to say or infer otherwise".
"I didn’t tell people I went to Israel and Palestine for reasons that must be self-evident now, but I still should have been as publicly proud to go on an educational trip that helped me, as I was in private."
 |
| A former NUS NEC member (Shabina Raja) called Brooks 'racist and Islamophobic' |
Brooks continues:
"Let’s then look at why some people would say those things,
either not having evidence to prove them as allegation or worse – knowing them
to be not true and persisting anyway.
1) Electioneering. I will ask you to look at the lists of
the most hateful, vitriolic social media abusers and then cross examine that
with who the far left put forward as election candidates. They believe that
they need to play to their base of far left activists (rather than, I don’t
know, talking to students through their students’ unions) to win elections –
and no better way to do that then attack myself in the far left’s eyes.
2) Anti – Semitism. The entirety of ‘The Lobby’ which I was
inadvertently in for 45 seconds – is following around Jewish people and those
who speak to them, with an ominous soundtrack. It uses the oldest Anti-Semitic
trope in the book – that the Jews are out there, controlling the media and the
world, to their benefit. It is ant-Semitism, and those associated with it
should be ashamed of themselves.
3) Payback. I am (and some would argue, have been since
birth – sorry mum!) unhelpful, to the far left. I hope I have been a champion
of Students’ Unions, and a radical progressive voice within NUS. I have tried
to ensure that those who have felt left behind in the movement – Modern
Universities, Further Education and Apprentices – have had a voice. For those
to whom it is their benefit to keep NUS in the status quo of Russell Group and
large HE Students’ Unions with far left politics – I am a problem. This was a
scare tactic, pure and simple. To show to others who may agree with me that NUS
works on behalf of Students’ Unions (not the other way round) – that this is
what happens when you have the audacity to disagree.
It would be hoped that at this point that the far left NUS
officers who either kept quiet or piled in on me for doing exactly as they do,
would admit they got it wrong. It would be hoped that the far left officers of
the NEC who had used me as an electioneering platform would apologise.
But it’s conference season. And they know the game. If only
their mates turn up to NUS’ Conferences – then they don’t have any incentive to
admit that they’re wrong.
I won’t hold my breath.
The truth is, there’s a really strong incentive for people
to behave like this in NUS for political gain because it works even when it’s
all lies. We’ve got to take charge in ending that poisonous way of doing
politics and build a movement that’s actually fit for purpose. It is my
intention to do so.
To every single student, students’ union officer, students’
union bod, friends and family – I want to say from the bottom of my heart thank
you so much for the support you gave me. It meant so much.
To Students’ Unions everywhere – this is what the far left
do when they believe they’re about to lose power. They hop into bed with the
nastiest racists, misogynists and bullies around. They convince themselves they
are champions of equality, messiahs of social justice, but their actions have
the opposite effect and their attitudes sow toxicity across the movement.
And right now, until April in Brighton, they represent
students’ unions."
Got opinions on this article? Comment below
Header Image via NUS Connect
NUS VP Brooks, Cleared of Attempting to Oust President, Hits Back at 'Far-Left Scare Tactics'
Reviewed by Student Voices
on
20:51
Rating:
Reviewed by Student Voices
on
20:51
Rating:
No comments:
Share your views here! But read our Comment Policy first, found on the about page.