Oxford University Labour Club (OULC) was founded in 1919 to provide a voice for Labour Party values and for socialism and social democracy at Oxford University, England. It is the largest and oldest university Labour club in the country.
The club caters for any students who are interested in the ideals of the labour movement whether a lifelong member of the Labour Party or entirely new to politics. Stewart Wood, special adviser to Gordon Brown and politics tutor at Magdalen College, said that 'OULC is held up as an exemplar of what needs to be done.' During his visit to Oxford in July 2009 the Prime Minister Gordon Brown was reported as having praised OULC’s 'brilliant contribution to progressive politics in the University, the city and the country.' The club was instrumental in returning Andrew Smith to Parliament for Oxford East at the 2010 General Election with a 4.1% swing to Labour, the largest in England outside London.
OULC holds regular speaker events, social events, topical discussions and takes part in year-round campaigning activity, in the student movement for the Labour Party and on issues decided by the membership. In recent years, the club has hosted a number of high-profile figures from the Labour movement including Tony Benn, David Miliband, Ed Miliband, Andrew Adonis, Neil Kinnock, Lord Falconer, Alastair Campbell, Harriet Harman, Jeremy Corbyn, John Denham, Stephen Twigg, David Blunkett, Brendan Barber, Derek Simpson, Nick Cohen, Tessa Jowell and Jack Straw.
In the past, it produced a termly magazine called Look Left which has gone online-only as of 2012 and can be found here: http://lleft.blogspot.co.uk/. It hosts an annual John Smith Memorial Dinner and has recently added an annual Barbara Castle Memorial Lecture.
Read more about Oxford University Labour Club: Constitution and Organisation
Famous quotes containing the words oxford, university, labour and/or club:
“During the first formative centuries of its existence, Christianity was separated from and indeed antagonistic to the state, with which it only later became involved. From the lifetime of its founder, Islam was the state, and the identity of religion and government is indelibly stamped on the memories and awareness of the faithful from their own sacred writings, history, and experience.”
—Bernard Lewis, U.S. Middle Eastern specialist. Islam and the West, ch. 8, Oxford University Press (1993)
“I am not willing to be drawn further into the toils. I cannot accede to the acceptance of gifts upon terms which take the educational policy of the university out of the hands of the Trustees and Faculty and permit it to be determined by those who give money.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“A man’s labour is not only his capital but his life. When it passes it returns never more. To utilise it, to prevent its wasteful squandering, to enable the poor man to bank it up for use hereafter, this surely is one of the most urgent tasks before civilisation.”
—William Booth (1829–1912)
“The creation of “strong-minded” women, so-called, is due to the individualism of men, to the modern selfish and speculative spirit which absorbs everything within itself and leaves women nothing but self-assertion for their protection and support.”
—“Jennie June” Croly 1829–1901, U.S. founder of the woman’s club movement, journalist, author, editor. Demorest’s Illustrated Monthly and Mirror of Fashions, p. 44 (February 1870)