Bristol University’s Independent Student Newspaper Issue 251
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Monday 14th May 2012
• www.epigram.org.uk
Bristol bucks trend with ‘yes’ to mayor Josephine McConville Head News Reporter Bristol was the only city to vote ‘yes’ for a directly elected mayor in a series of referenda held across the country. The poll, cast on the 3rd May, saw a margin of 5100 votes, despite accusations of blackmail. The results pave the way for potential candidates running for Bristol City Mayor, including a University of Bristol Union Trustee. Despite a low turnout of 24 per cent, 41,032 people voted ‘yes’ in favour of a mayor while 35,880 voted ‘no’. From 15th November, Bristol will have a mayor directly elected by the people, replacing the current system of councillors selecting a council leader from their own political party. Nine other cities;
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Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Nottingham, Coventry, Wakefield and Bradford, voted against having a directly elected mayor. George Ferguson, a UBU trustee, plans to stand as an independent candidate in the race to become Bristol’s first directly elected Mayor in November. Craig Clarke, who stormed a hearing at Bristol County Court to evict College Green
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Just 24 per cent of Bristol’s electorate turned out to vote in the referendum
and ‘inaccurate’. Some voters also claimed not to have received the leaflets while 10,000 ineligible voters had. The momentous results were met with mixed reactions. Former Labour council leader Helen Holland, said ‘I think this is going to bring some stability to the city. The new mayor’s term of office will be four years,
which will give them a clear run at taking the city forward’ ‘No’ campaigner Bill Martin, a former Lord Mayor and Labour councillor said, ‘it puts too much power into the hands of one person and if we don’t like them we are saddled with them.’ Ferguson urged more student involvement,telling Epigram,‘Bristol
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has done itself a huge favour in deciding to go for a directly elected city mayor and I hope Bristol’s 40,000 students will engage with the process that could transform the way this city is governed. We now have a great responsibility to show the way to those other cities that failed to grasp the opportunity to rally round a unifying candidate.’
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Alice Young News Editor Students voted Bristol through to improve access to and admission contextualised offers s targets General at the Annual Meeting of the Union this Students’ month. The motion priority ballot voted to the top of the and thus called for discussed stronger first contextua enforcem l offers ent of from underpriv of places to students ileged backgrou Proposer nds. Josephine resistance Suherma n met from some questione students d whether who useful, with the motion It sparked a heated Kyle Mulhollan was that the d arguing benefits of awarding debate over the motion would, ‘reduce existing the type of university places sport facilities. school attended, based on ’s prestige the Mew, value of The ‘Campaig the UBU with Sophie your degree’. and reduce the ning to approval Rink’ motion Officer, arguing Widening Participat Suherma Save the n, a third was passed ion the Ice President and Dom Oliver, that it would ‘not to end student, vote with year with 70% UBU Vicebe better responde for Sport the private of earlier d to these Politics the low-incom Paul Charlton speeches from and Health, comment Chris Ruff, school bias criticisms ing, had but James and President proposer report announced in e student Vice-Pres would look ‘We all know the Mulhollan bias’. his annual Activities, ident for Lumsden of Ice Soc that campus very then . a amendme Centre would the University Economic d, was enforced’ different if this proposed nt to limit s and Politicssecond Sports policy year an be introduci instalmen to the The motion . student, ng termly Fridays only, arguingthe dress code to stage again ts for took passed with the hilarity vote. to oppose that In his report sports passes. students 68% of the motion as well, of the motion it ‘retains this claiming, attended at the beginnin require the AGM from state Adam ‘Applicati this year’s Gus schools g of Both me to buy another but doesn’t ons Ludlow’s are AGM, also announce Baker, UBU President because controver Ruff’s speech suit.’ state schools low in general of the student 2% motion, sially d that , of the entitled team will and the general’. Bristol’s are terrible body motion passing ‘Ending Silent Private Ludlow, be working the sabbatical in a third year participat student, called for on a widening applause, with were met by roaring argued this ion History the Universit School Bias’, 64% of agreemen the access assessment to was not the figures regarding Rosemary the AGM y to publish of the motion, address t that UBU point Drummo figures in saying, ‘I the proportio be forced that state state and don’t agree Hay both proposed nd and Hamish Epigram in October. published to wear suits officers should schools private n of motion by detailed more students are awful’. motions at the Universit school The on Fridays. These AGM is how Bristol figures His use the swimminto help one held every y and set students approval. narrowly passed to decide redress the Universit of 25 UK with 56% and gym, with targets to February on y was g pool balance. institutio Drummo will pursue the policies that flexible A series ns failing nd arguing meet its own and of motions UBU over the to targets participat would make cheaper sports improvin coming on widening Motions are g availabilit were aimed at ion. passes year. ‘sport either to become to larger y and access more accessible voted through The AGM policy or ended on to motions numbers of students’ year’s AGM with a motion voted out. a jovial were passed . Both note, the This attracted to force officers with over 414 students, highest UBU elected turnout 85% week. to wear suits every since 2001 day of the a 74.6% increase and on last year, represent ing just despite over 2% student of the total body.
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Occupy protesters, is also intending to stand as a candidate. The main political parties have yet to select their contenders. Bristol Lib Dem MP Stephen Williams quelled speculation that he would stand by committing himself to the 2015 general election. In the days leading up to the election, it was reported Bristol could receive a £1 billion jackpot to fund vital improvements and public schemes, as long as the electorate voted ‘yes’. Some critics claimed that linking the mayoral vote to this deal amounted to bribery and blackmail. Simon Cook, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat-run Bristol City Council said ‘I think that the worrying thing is that the government are in effect blackmailing us. ‘They’re saying either have a mayor and get some more determination over your own business or if you don’t you won’t.’ This was not the only issue complicating the referendum. Current Bristol Lord Mayor Geoff Gollop voiced his concerns over voters getting his role and role of elected Mayor confused. Head of legal services at Bristol City Council Stephen McNamara said: ‘It is unfortunate that both would have the name ‘mayor’ - they are fundamentally different. The Lord Mayor is a ceremonial post that holds no direct power. An elected mayor will have all the executive powers of the council to run the city. There were also controversies surrounding the referendum leaflets sent out to the electorate. The Bristol City Council faced accusations from Clark that leaflets were ‘unbalanced’
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