PARTY CONFERENCE SEASON PLUTO
Issue 253
NEWS 2-5
FEATURES 6-7
COMMENT 8-9
LIFESTYLE 10-14
CULTURE 15-18
SOCIETIES 19-20
7
SPORT 21-24
The past few weeks have been a critical period in politics as the main political parties took off round the country for their respective party conferences. UCLan’s politically minded students have been having their say on conference week and how it went for the parties they support.
STRONG PERFORMANCE SHOWS CAMERON IS STILL NUMBER ONE
SPEAKING about David Cameron’s speech, which many have lauded as his best yet, UCLan Politics Chair Dan Dewhurst, speaking as a Conservative student agreed, saying: “This year’s Conservative Party Conference probably saw David Cameron’s best political speech to date. He showed a very strong performance, which focused on the contemporary issues voters wanted to hear. “Whilst it may have been a speech that won’t go down in the history books, it was certainly a solid performance which will dwindle the popularity of the opposition approaching the next election.”
Bowen Perryman, a Conservative supporter and first year social work student was also pleased with Cameron’s speech, saying: “David Cameron took the stand with a clear and proven agenda and whilst Miliband talked of passion, the Prime Minister embodied it in a rousing speech.” This was the first Conservative Party conference since Margaret Thatcher died in April. Of the way the ‘Iron Lady’ was represented in Manchester, Dan said: “Cameron gave time to pay dedication to the late Baroness Thatcher, which appealed greatly to the Party’s core voters.
SHIFT LEFT... Labour focused on strengthening the minimum wage.
“The blue banners hanging from the ceiling, embroidered with the achievements of this terms government gave a hint of reminiscence to the days of Thatcher’s tenure.” In summary, Dan said: “Cameron’s performance at this year’s CPC was very strong and encouraging for a state just reaching its feet again. “Cameron’s dedication to passionately help the entire spectrum of society shone through. “And he appealed to the middle ground of politics and saw the stance of the conservative party move to a one nation party.”
LIB DEMS ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED TO WORK WITH ALL PARTIES tremely critical of Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, Vince Cable called them the ‘nasty’ party of all and Nick Clegg criticised their tax breaks for married couples policy. In his keynote speech to end the conference, Clegg said: “The absolute worst thing to do would be to give the keys to Number 10 to a single party government – Labour or the Conservatives. “We’re no one’s little brother. We’re not trying to get back into government to fold into one of the other parties – we want to be there to anchor them to the liberal centre ground... bang in the middle. We’re not here to prop up the two-
IMAGE: DFID
RED ED THE CATALYST FOR A LABOUR SHIFT TO THE LEFT
THE main news to come from Labour’s party conference was their shift to the left, announcing policies such as strengthening minimum wage and freezing gas and electricity prices. Third year Journalism student Adam Legg, a Labour supporter, said of the shift: “Whenever Labour gets a new leader, we generally see a shift to the left. “In all honesty, I wish we would stay to the left for a little bit longer rather than moving back towards centre and centreright wing economic policy which we saw under Blair.” Another debate surrounding Labour was Ed Miliband’s ability to act as Prime
THE main piece of news to come out of the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow was Nick Clegg’s admission that he and his party would be willing to work with Labour- something that is unlikely to please David Cameron. Even their main new policy, free school meals for primary school children, was very Labour-like. However, this came before Labour’s shift to the left at their party conference a week later; the Lib Dems moved right, into the middle ground in Glasgow. The Lib Dems did not speak very favourably of their Tory counterparts. Secretary of State Ed Davey was ex-
STRONG PERFORMANCE... The Prime Minister gave a rousing speech.
party system. We’re here to bring it down.” Jes Ostler, a third year Journalism student and Liberal Democrat supporter said: “I know they’ve been given a hard time but I think they’ve had a positive impact. “Nick Clegg has had it rough but he made some good points about how limited their power has been this term. “I think it’s brilliant that they’ve announced free school meals for children from next September. “The Lib Dems have a key role to play in keeping future governments on track and in the middle ground.”
Minister. Former SU President Edd Graham-Hyde, now doing an MA in Religion, Culture & Society said: “I think Ed Miliband showed that he has what it takes to be a real driving force forward and that he has the gall to stand up for what is right which includes standing up to the press. “Equally, I think he shows himself to have a real deep knowledge of what the government, and the Labour Party, need to have in order to be more representative and relevant to the general public.” Whilst Cameron used his speech to highlight the work the Conservatives have done so far in the coalition rather
than introduce new policies (he only mentioned one), Labour used their conference to introduce many and one in particular caught Edd’s attention: “One that stood out for me was for votes at 16. “I’ve been campaigning for this for years and it’s great to see a party willing to involve younger people in politics. It sends a real message to the parties that oppose this policy that they don’t truly care about what young people want if they won’t allow votes at 16 – Labour clearly does care.” Adam Legg was equally supportive of this policy: “I think that it’s such a good idea.”
COALITION... The Liberal Democrats admit they are willing to work with Labour
IMAGE: World Economic Forum