Student Respect welcomes the news that London Metropolitan University's disgraced Board of Governors this week agreed to resign in the face of massive opposition. Hundreds of people attended a demonstration on Tuesday to demand an end to the reckless mismanagement of the Governors, which has brought the university to the brink of collapse and led to the threat of severe job losses and course closures.

Commenting on the news, Abjol Miah, Respect's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow, where many London Met students live, said:
"This is great news for all of us who wanted to see justice done at London Met University. I want to applaud the staff, trade unions and students who united to defend their university at this critical time. I hope that following today London Met recovers from this management crisis to once again offer a reputation for excellence that serves the whole community."

Student Respect backs the UCU lecturers' union demand that the governors should be forced out now, not next summer as has been announced. London Met needs fresh leadership as soon as possible so that students can have confidence that their university is on its way back up.

We also condemn the excessive and unwarranted police aggression at Tuesday's demonstration that left many people bruised and shook up. We have a right to protest to defend our education without fear of violence from the police.