This Petition is for the student body to condemn the actions and call for the resignation of the current National Union of Students Vice President for Union Development, Richard Brooks.

I note that we as a Student Union are affiliated to the National Union of Students to represent us and the student opinion to Government institutions within the United Kingdom. We as students at this University democratically elect our representatives, that is our Sabbatical Officers and our NUS Delegates who then elect our national representatives, the Part Time and Full Time Officers of the NUS at the NUS national conferences. In April 2016, Malia Bouattia was elected as the NUS President and Richard Brooks was elected to be the VP for Union Development.

I note that as a student in a University, the opinions and beliefs that students and academics hold are vast, diverse and sometimes confrontational. We as students however learn to accommodate other opinions; we learn to respect different viewpoints and learn to critique them on an academic basis in our collective struggle and advancement for and of knowledge. We do so within recognised limits and according to recognised channels.

Recent revelations (#NUSleaks, #TheLobby) have shown Richard Brooks circumvented those channels and democratic structures. He has tried to undermine the democratic system to oust the NUS President Malia Bouattia for her pro-Palestine stance. He did this not only through simply campaigning against her, which after her election is a breach of code of conduct in itself, but also in organising regional networks, in involving foreign government (Israeli Embassy) officials who has been sent back, a civil servant and Conservative Official who have resigned and leading a smear campaign against her which has led to rape and death threats and her numerous hospitalisation in recent months.

Brooks has shown he is dismissive of the mandate we as students have given him, of the democratic structure that elected him, of the NUS and every single one of us. As a member of this Students' Union I have no confidence in the current NUS VP Union Development, Richard Brooks to represent us and carry out his role and duties. 

We as students hereby call for him, to resign from his position immediately.