The political portal of the University of Manchester
If you are a UK or EU student living in halls at the University of Manchester, you will automatically have been registered to vote in the local elections that are taking place this Thursday (1st May 2008). The ward in which you can vote depends on the hall in which you live.
If you have not been given your polling card, you can still vote without it - you just need to take proof of ID with you to the polling station. Continue reading ‘A students’ guide to the local elections’
On May 1st voters in England and Wales will be going to the polls in what will be seen as Gordon Brown?s first electoral test as Prime Minister. As well as the heavily publicised London Mayoral elections, elections are taking place in nearly half of England and Wales?s council districts with Manchester City Council being one of them. But why bother to vote? Manchester University?s own Student Direct this week interviewed a selection of students asking whether they will be voting with many giving negative responses. Here I tried to quell this voter apathy and give all students a reason to vote this Thursday.
One reason many cite for not voting is a lack of knowledge in the political process. So here is a quick explanation: Manchester is divided geographically into 32 electoral wards (with about 10,000 people in each), with each ward represented on the council by 3 councillors. After election each councillor then has to serve a 4 year term. Therefore, there are local elections in Manchester 3 out of every 4 years ? with a different councillor up for election each time. Currently out of Manchester?s 96 councillors, 61 represent the Labour Party, 33 the Liberal Democrats with the Conservative and Green Parties holding one seat each. Therefore this year there is an election in all 32 seats with the chance to choose one of the three councillors who will represent your ward. The main wards covering student areas are Fallowfield, Levenshulme, Rusholme, Withington and the City Centre.
Continue reading ‘Manchester Local Elections 2008′
The room fell silent immediately. Some 60 heads turned to the front now, eagerly listening, as the man in the dark suit with the shiny head raises his voice, ?Politics is never tedious, never boring?. William Hague claims his words are not those of empty promises or preaching, but those of an approachable politician with the ambition to politically mobilise young people. An anecdote here and there and the crowd bursts into a gale of laughter. The Shadow Foreign Secretary knows exactly how to catch the attention of his young audience. And he has a clear message to deliver.
A rare afternoon of active political involvement amongst Manchester?s students. Those who have secretly been craving for an opportunity to welcome some of Britain?s most renowned political figures to the University took a sigh of relief, when the political spotlight turned to ?Kro Bar? on Tuesday, 15th April. William Hague MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, came to campus to speak to students about democracy, how it affects them and why voting makes all the difference. The event was hosted by Rob Ardlard, Conservative candidate for the city centre.
Continue reading ‘William Hague Speaks to Manchester Students’
So Freshers, here you are finally enrolled in the university of Manchester, home to the great and good, the drunk and the slightly drunker. Whether you’ve been in college the last couple of years or just on your gap year smoking something dodgy in a Borneon jungle, you’re probably still a little terrified of what awaits you in the coming months and years. Continue reading ‘Dangermouse, drink and maybe a degree’
