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REFERE~E ARCHIVE
Not t o be t al<en outside the Concrete offi ce. Return aft el use .
Jane Douglas Student voting figures over the country remain liable to fluctuation with only one day to go until voting day, opinion polls suggest. Politicians have recognized the importance of the student vote this year, with issues such as 'top-up' fees, the Iraq war, and ID cards stirring up anger and resentment among many students. Students constitute 13% of the electorate, and could therefore make a considerable difference to the coming General Election . This comes as a significant difference to the voting patterns of the 2001 election, when only 39% of people aged 18-24 voted. The Liberal democrats are proVing the most popular party for students with a 39% majority. although this has dropped from 46% over the last six months . Labour has increased their support from 22% to 28% in the same period . and the Conservatives are falling behind with 23% of the vote. The Liberal De.mocrats have become the real alternative for student voters this election with their proposals to scrap tuition fe es entirely. and implement a higher rate of taxation on those earning over 拢100.000 to pay for it. They also opposed the Iraq war. an issue that cut deep for m a ny students. with thousands marching in protest. The Lib Dems are also against ID cards. One first year UEA student listed th e abolition of top-up fees as her main reason for backing Ke nnedy's party. "because rn be affected in my fmal year. as will my younger brothers if they choose to go to university".
In a bid to encourage student voting, Charles Kennedy recently highlighted the fact that 27 Labour and Conservative seats could go to the Liberal Democrats if students get out and vote on May the 5th. The university's local seat. Norwich South is one of the main seats targeted. and candidates turned out to fight for the seat last Friday at UEA's question time. Home Secretary Charles Clarke, the man who pushed through proposals for tuition fees whilst education secretary. is currently the MP for Norwich South . He also drove through ID cards and the anti-terrorism measures which permitted house arrest without trial. As has been reflected in various UEA campaigns. voters feel that they can no longer trust the Labour party after having been repeatedly misled. In their 2001 General Election manifesto. the Labour party promised that they would "not introduce 路top-up ' fees and [had[ legislated to prevent them". Howeve r they were introduced. and co uld result in entry to university being determined by ability to pay. and the penalisation of the middle class. There is a lso debate as to the legality of the Iraq war. and whether the Prime Minister lied to the n a tion over an issue of such magnitude. The Conservatives say that they would also abolish tuition fees . but would pay for it by putting a higher rate of interest on student loans. TI1is would tax only those who needed to take out loans in U1e first places. not the rich whose parents can afford to pay for them.
Student voters see page 2