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Gemma Tumelty

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Gemma Tumelty is the current President of the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom (NUS). She was the NUS National Secretary for 2005 to 2006, and a member of its National Executive Committee for two years before that. A graduate of Liverpool John Moores University, she was previously Women's Officer and then Vice President Welfare in Liverpool Students' Union.

NUS President

Gemma Tumelty leading the NUS National Demo October 2006

Tumelty was first elected in March of 2006. Although she is a member of the Labour Party she was not a candidate of its student wing, Labour Students, and ran for President with the description "independent"; as she only joined The Labour Party in the weeks before the conference. She is part of the Organised Independents faction. She beat Pav Akhtar, the first Muslim candidate for President of the NUS and another member of the Labour Party who ran as an independent, in the final round. There were five other candidates, including a member of the Education Not for Sale campaign, candidates from Conservative Future and Liberal Democrat Youth and Students, and two more independents.

In 2006, Tumelty led the NUS in signing an accord with the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Motivated by the increasing number of students who are taking-up employment to fund their eduation, the agreement will see the NUS and TUC working together to encourage students to join a trade union.[1]

Tumelty was re-elected on March 28th 2007 and will serve a full term until July 2008. Her opponents in 2007 were Sofie Buckland, a member of Education Not for Sale and an officer on the NUS National Executive, and Rob Owen, a member of RESPECT and General Secretary of the University of Manchester Students' Union.

On 11th March, 2008, it was reported by the National Student that Tumelty was engaged in 'dirty games', in a deal which will ensure the 'Organized Independents' win seat of Vice-President Higher Education in return for not fieling a candidate against Labour Students' Les Streeting.

Political offices
Preceded by President of the
National Union of Students
2006– 		Succeeded by
Incumbent (term expires 2008)
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