STUDENTS COULD DECIDE THE NEXT GOVERNMENT (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

STUDENTS COULD DECIDE THE NEXT GOVERNMENT

April 13, 2005 2:04 PM

Sue Stebbing and Mike Evemy met students at New College with David Rendel

Mike Evemy and Sue Stebbing meet students at New College with David Rendel

The Daily Telegraph has confirmed what Liberal Democrats have claimed for months - that young people are turning away from Tony Blair's Labour Government and are embracing Liberal Democracy in ever-growing numbers.

Last week, The Daily Telegraph conducted a poll of 116 students at 10 universities across Britain. According to the paper, almost half (55) said they planned to vote Liberal Democrat. Many were previously Labour supporters but now feel betrayed over the Iraq war and introduction of tuition fees. Tories and Labour were neck and neck (19 and 18 votes respectively) and 8 students said they would be voting Green.

The poll supports the Liberal Democrats view that students will play a decisive role in the General Election. In Cambridge, Cardiff, Leeds and Newcastle-upon-Tyne the student vote alone could oust Labour and return a Liberal Democrat MP.

Mike Evemy, Parliamentary Candidate for North Swindon, commented:

"The findings of this poll support what I have found talking with young people and students in Swindon. They are generally disillusioned with the Labour government, don't like the Conservatives' policies and are responding to our principled stand on the Iraq war and our plans to abolish tuition and top-up fees. Many are planning to cast their first national vote for the Liberal Democrats."

There are 7,000 Liberal Democrat Youth and Student members, with branches at universities across the country. The Liberal Democrats are working hard to attract even more young and student voters - making significant resources available to their youth and student wing to campaign in the General Election.

Claudia Woszczyk, an 18 year old student at New College, said:

"I am voting for the first time in the upcoming election. I'll be voting LibDem because they are the only party that has consistently stood against the war in Iraq and tuition fees."