Author: Beth Thurlow

Campaign season kicked off on Tuesday with the candidate fair!  Each candidate was set up at a station ready to pass on the message of their manifestos and why they feel they would be a good fit for the roles.  This is a great way to really kick start campaigning and allows the student body to meet the candidates, and discuss with each of them what they plan on doing if elected. With so many different ideas and approaches being made, the room buzzed with energy.  Many of the students I managed to speak to were very excited about meeting…

A letter sent to an MP by a MoJ minister outlines what a new Welsh Government bill would mean in practice; Welsh parents could lose their jobs for smacking their kids if the new law is implemented, a letter from the Ministry of Justice has warned. If a Welsh Government bill to outlaw reasonable chastisement passes, parents suspected of smacking their children will face police investigations. The news was confirmed in a letter sent by an MoJ minister to David TC Davies, the MP for Monmouth, at the end of last year. It also confirms that information about parents who…

The 2021 census could be the last one ever to be carried out, the UK’s national statistician has revealed. Prof Sir Ian Diamond said he was examining cheaper alternatives to the 10-yearly compulsory questionnaire delivered to every UK household. The census, which has been conducted for almost 200 years, provides valuable population information to help councils and the government plan services. But Sir Ian said he was “hopeful” data from other sources could replace it. “The census is frankly as good as it is possible to get,” he said. “Let’s see if we can get to a similar place, more…

As we all aware, the UK decided to leave the EU following a referendum in June 2016 with 17.4 million in favour of the motion. Brexit being the buzzword of the last few years, the question on everyone’s lips is what happens next? Following the formal departure on January 31st, 2020, months of negotiations for what the next steps will be were sparked. While our departure has been agreed, both the EU and the UK need to decide on the future relationships, creating the transition period. In the next 11 months the UK will still follow the rules and regulations…

With the general election now only days away, it’s time to really think about where your vote will go! Young people aged 18-24 have the power to change the way the government is run; don’t let a lack of knowledge affect your vote. Putting your tick in a box does make a difference, so don’t let your voice go unheard. This is the third general election since 2015 so let’s make this one count! So, with that in mind here is a rundown of the parties’ top priorities for this election. CONSERVATIVES  Leader Boris Johnson Top priorities Bring back…

The island’s outgoing MP remains confident that a multi-billion-pound nuclear plant will go ahead, despite question marks over its future Approaching his final week in Parliament, the North Wales MP says he remains confident a multi-billion-pound nuclear plant will go ahead despite question marks over its future. Other political distractions like Brexit or the upcoming election won’t stop plans for the plant.  First elected in 2001 – one of only two gains made by Labour that night, Albert Owen has represented Ynys Môn since that surprise win 18 years ago. But having spent his early career riding on a crest…

The result of the 2019 general election could determine whether Brexit happens or not. Some campaign groups are suggesting people use tactical-voting websites, to help them decide which candidate to support. One website has faced criticism over the nature of its advice. What is tactical voting? Put simply, tactical voting is when someone backs a candidate they wouldn’t normally support, to stop someone else winning. This could happen in a constituency where two parties are in a tight race and candidates from other parties trail far behind. In these circumstances, a supporter of the candidate who was a distant third,…

With the upcoming general election looming, it is more important than ever to have your voice heard. Not voting equals no change! Your votes do make all the difference in the bigger picture.  While you may be registered to vote in your hometowns, you are allowed to register in your university town to ensure you have the chance to vote.  While the Christmas break may begin the day after election day you still have until the 26th of November to register for a postal vote so you can be heard!  10 reasons why it is important that you register…

With Brexit only a matter of days away, the UK has fallen under a blanket of uncertainty with the temporary termination of parliament leaving the nation unsure of its future, here’s a recap of what we do know.  What is the Brexit deal? The deal consisted of a withdrawal agreement – which set out the terms for the ‘divorce’ process. There was also a political declaration – which outlined the future relationship between the UK and EU. The withdrawal agreement covered a range of things including: the rights of EU citizens in the UK and British citizens in the EU…

A key part of the Brexit negotiations has been the border that separates Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The border is a matter of great political, security and diplomatic sensitivity in Ireland. Therefore, the UK and EU agreed that, whatever happens as a result of Brexit, there should be no new physical checks or infrastructure at the frontier. This is where the controversial “backstop” comes in. Why might the backstop be needed? At present, goods and services are traded between the two jurisdictions with few restrictions. That is because the UK and Ireland are part of the EU’s…

Discussions over a no deal Brexit have been hot on everyone’s lips but what does that actually mean. In the case of a no deal, the UK will leave with no confirmed agreements in the ‘divorce’ from the EU. Overnight the UK will leave the single market and customs union forcing the UK to pay import charges and will be more likely to raise the expenses of several areas of revenue. The withdrawal from the EU also means a withdrawal from the European courts of justice. No deal supporters suggest that the UK could avoid a £39 billion payout in the ‘divorce settlement’. With the official leave date getting closer and closer, these are the…