We asked the UCU members standing in the current elections whether they would support “HE32”, a motion put to UCU Congress in 2019 to express support for academic freedom, with specific reference to gender, but which was voted down. The responses we received are tabulated below. Where we used other evidence to establish their position, that is noted. If you're a candidate and wish to state your position please email ucu4af@gmail.com.
We encourage all UCU members to give your strongest preference vote to candidates who back academic freedom, and to withhold your vote from those who do not.
Trustees (3 seats)
Mike Barton (London retired members branch) – unable to contact
David Limb (North West Regional College) – no response
Angie McConnell (Open University) – no response
Martin Ralph (University of Liverpool) – unable to contact
Dr Angela Roger (University of Dundee) – no response
Angie McConnell (Open University) – no response
Vice President from the further education sector (1 seat)
Janet Farrar (The Manchester College) – no response
Margot Hill (Croydon College) – NO (hedged position)
Geographically-elected members of the National Executive Committee
Northern Ireland HE (1 seat)
Philip McGowan (Queen’s University Belfast) – NO
Linda Moore (Ulster University) – YES
Northern Ireland FE (1 seat) (uncontested)
Monica Goligher (Belfast Metropolitan College) – YES
Wales HE (1 seat) (uncontested)
Vida Greaux (University of South Wales) – no response
North East HE (3 seats)
Bruce Baker (Newcastle University) – NO
Ariane Bogain (Northumbria University) – no response
Matilda Fitzmaurice (Durham University) – no response
Joan Harvey (Newcastle University) – YES
Ruth Holliday (University of Leeds) – no response
Dr Steve Lui (University of Huddersfield) – no response
Dr Edward Yates (University of Sheffield) – no response
Matilda Fitzmaurice (Durham University) – no response
North East FE (1 seat)
Rachel Minshull (Leeds City College) – YES
Saleem Rashid (Sheffield College) – YES
London and the East HE (4 seats to include at least one woman)
Professor Paul Anderson (Queen Mary University of London) – no response
Sarah Brown (Anglia Ruskin University) [woman] – equivocal response
Annie Goh (UAL Central St Martins) [woman] – no response
Claire Marris (City, University of London) [woman] – no response
Dr Stan Papoulias (King’s College London) – NO (Twitter)
Roddy Slorach (Imperial College London) – NO (referred to Margot Hill’s hedged position)
Holly Smith (University College London) [woman] – YES
London and the East FE (2 seats) (uncontested)
Julia Roberts (Lambeth College) – no response
Sean Vernell (Capital City College Group CANDI Lifelong Learning) – no response
Midlands HE (1 seat) (casual vacancy)
Alan Barker (University of Nottingham) – YES
Dr Teresa Forde (University of Derby) – no response
David Harvie (University of Leicester) – no response
Scotland (Honorary Secretary UCU Scotland) (1 seat) (casual vacancy) Dr Eurig Scandrett (Queen Margaret University) - YES Ann Swinney (University of Dundee) – NO (referred to Margot Hill’s hedged position)
UK-elected members HE (5 seats; to include at least one post-92, one academic related)
Mark Abel (University of Brighton) [post-92] – YES
Sunil Banga (Lancaster University) – YES
Shereen Benjamin (University of Edinburgh) – YES
Michael Carley (University of Bath) – YES (voted for HE32)
Mike Finn (University of Exeter) – no response
Ann Gow (University of Glasgow) – YES
Julie Hearn (Lancaster University) – YES
Sarah King (University of Sussex) [academic related] – declined to answer (Twitter)
Michael McKrell (University of Central Lancashire) [post-92] – YES
Jo McNeill (University of Liverpool) [academic related] – no response
Claire Marris (City, University of London) – no response
Jamie Melrose (University of Bristol) – no response
Dr Chris O’Donnell (University of the West of Scotland) [post-92] – no response
Dr Adam Ozanne (University of Manchester) – YES
Stan Papoulias (King’s College London) – NO (Twitter)
Dr Mark Pendleton (University of Sheffield) – NO (voted against HE32)
Dr Leon Rocha (University of Lincoln) [post-92] – no response
Ann Swinney (University of Dundee) – NO (referred to Margot Hill’s hedged position)
Chloe Vitry (Lancaster University) – NO
UK-elected members HE (casual vacancy) (1 seat)
Sunil Banga (Lancaster University) – YES
Dr Mark Pendleton (University of Sheffield) – NO (voted against HE32)
Chloe Vitry (Lancaster University) – NO (Twitter)
UK-elected members FE (3 seats; to include at least one ACE and one woman)
Naina Kent (Hackney ACE) [ACE] [woman] – no response
Richard McEwan (New City College (Poplar)) – no response
Lauren Mura (Blackburn College) [woman] – YES
Saleem Rashid (Sheffield College) – YES
UK-elected members FE (casual vacancy) (1 seat)
Nina Doran (City of Liverpool College) – unable to contact
Kevin Lynch (Sunderland College) – YES
Representatives of women members (5 seats; three HE and two FE members to be elected)
Higher education (3 seats)
Pura Ariza (Manchester Metropolitan University) – no response
Dr Joanne Edge (University of Manchester) – NO
Dr Joanna de Groot (University of York) – YES
Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse (University of Exeter) – no response
Madhu Krishnan (University of Bristol) – equivocal response
Rhiannon Lockley (Birmingham City University) – NO
Marian Mayer (Bournemouth University) – no response
Dr Renee Prendergast (Queen’s University Belfast) – YES
Chloe Vitry (Lancaster University) – NO (Twitter)
Julie Wilkinson (Manchester Metropolitan University) – YES
Further education (2 seats) (uncontested)
Carolyn Campbell (The Trafford College Group) – unable to contact
Stephanie Williams (Bath College) – no response
Representatives of migrant members (2 seats) (uncontested)
Dima Chami (University of Leeds) [non-EU] – NO (voted against HE32)
Robyn Orfitelli (University of Sheffield) [non-EU] – NO (voted against HE32)