STUDENTS came together to formulate their plans for the fight against austerity at the weekend.

Branded as “empowering” and “inspiring” by campaigners at the event the Student Assembly Against Austerity saw Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott, Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and well-known student activists Michael Segalov, Aaron Kiely and Shreya Paudel in attendance.

Lewisham Southwark College students’ union president Shakira Martin told the Star: “The student assembly was empowering, inspiring and motivating.

“I’m ready to get out onto my campuses and community and share the knowledge I have learnt.”

She added: “It was great to have some higher education students interested in further education issues and better integrating the two.”

The event included talks on the effects that austerity, racism and the upcoming general elections will have on students across Britain.