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Issue 287 Monday 27th April 2015 www.epigram.org.uk
Labour narrowly ahead in student poll
Gage Skidmore
Liberal Democrats
The Weekly Bull
Number 10
Labour Party
An Epigram poll reveals that more Bristol students intend to vote for Labour than any other party, with the Conservatives in second and the Greens down to third as 7 May approaches, after topping the January MyBristol poll Sarah Newey News Editor With the general election 10 days away, Labour have narrowly won Epigram’s poll of over 950 University of Bristol students. The poll has revealed that 30% of students intend to vote Labour, with the Conservatives and Greens second and third, with 26% and 20% respectively. The Liberal Democrats received support from 16% of student voters, while just 6% of Bristol students back UKIP. Yet the results do not necessarily correlate with polls of Bristol West as a whole, which has been tipped to narrowly remain Lib Dem. The drop in support for the party among students,
The latest on the Alison Hayman dismissal dispute page 3
however, is not surprising; many feel let down after the trebling of tuition fees under the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition. Kate Dickinson, of the Green Party Society, told Epigram that she thought the Greens were capitalising upon this and becoming the student party: ‘Especially among students, the Lib Dems have lost a lot of support. I think the Green Party’s ideas really speak to students and young people who feel let down by current politics.’ While the Greens have been polling under 10% nationally, they have repeatedly polled more among Bristol students. But this is to be expected, with Bristol West pinpointed as one of the constituencies that they are hoping to win in the election. And a MyBristol poll in January had suggested that over 40% students had intended to vote Green, around double the amount that expressed the intention to vote Green in Epigram’s latest poll. YouthSight have suggested that Labour, followed by the Conservatives, are also the most popular parties nationally among students - with 35% and 25% respectively. YouthSight have found that the national student Green vote has dropped from 28% in February to 15% in April. Their polls also suggest that there will be a rise in student turnout from 66% to 69%, which would buck the traditional trend of decline. Across the UK, the Conservatives and Labour
are neck and neck, polling at 34% and 33% respectively (BBC Poll of Polls, 23 April). The key question seems to be who will form a post-electoral alliance (whether a coalition, minority government or confidence-andsupply arrangement), rather than who who will an overall majority. Max Austin, from Bristol University Conservative Association, said: ‘Nationally, while the Conservatives are faring fairly well, the election is simply too hard to call. We think that the Tories will get the most seats but this is no guarantee of a majority.’ Matty Bacon, Bristol Labour Students cochair, also commented on the poll results: ‘Why do I think Labour are winning the poll? Because students have had enough of the coalition government and they recognise the need for real change. In Bristol West they have the opportunity to get rid of a government minister who had voted with the Conservative at every turn including the bedroom tax and the Health and Social Care Act.’ Nonetheless, The Guardian’s poll has suggested that the Lib Dems will hold the Bristol West seat. Stephen Williams has been the MP for Bristol West since 2005, and is defending a majority of 11,000. Bristol Liberal Democrat Society seem confident of retaining the constituency, ‘It’s well known that the typically hardworking Liberal Democrat MPs often command a loyal following in their own constituencies,
The latest in the polls: 23 April Epigram, Student Poll - Labour 30%, Conservatives, 26%, Greens 20%, Lib Dems 16%, UKIP 6%, SNP 1%, Plaid Cymru 1% Guardian, Bristol West Poll - Lib Dems to hold the seat BBC Poll of Polls (23 April) Labour 33%, Conservatives 34%
and most commentators are therefore predicting that the Lib Dems will perform much better than the national polling would suggest.’ But students make up 25% of the constituency, and appear to show far less support for the party than they did in 2010. It will be interesting to see whether they hold on to the seat come 7 May. Our poll also revealed that 69% of students will be casting their votes in Bristol, with Bristol West heralded by The Guardian as one of the ten constituencies in which students have the most influence. This clearly resonates with students; 68% thought their votes would mean more at University compared to at home. Keep an eye on epigram.org.uk to get up to date poll figures and extra election coverage.
Want more election coverage? turn to our Election Special, page 4 and 5