Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport
    • En Garde!
    • BUWRU Still on Top
    • Hidden Histories: With The Archaeology Society
    • Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia
    • Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights
    • Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!
    • Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Redevelopment plans and the culture of Bangor

      October 28, 2022

      Immediate closure of Menai Bridge following reports of structural integrity issues

      October 28, 2022

      Racial abuse victim calls for harsher sentencing following nightclub assault

      October 28, 2022
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia

      October 29, 2022

      Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights

      October 29, 2022

      Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!

      October 29, 2022
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Gilmore Garms

      October 28, 2022

      Fleeces and Funk

      October 28, 2022

      Cheerleading: Getting your kit together

      October 28, 2022
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      North Wales Ramblings

      October 28, 2022

      Hamza Yassin: The Hard Work That Is Making Luck Happen

      October 28, 2022

      Student’s Union Hosts Repair Cafe for Sustainability Awareness Week

      October 28, 2022
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»News & Politics»Local News»General Election 2015 – University Question Time
    Local News

    General Election 2015 – University Question Time

    Eleanor HirstBy Eleanor HirstMay 7, 2015Updated:May 26, 2015No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    As the General Election (7th May) gets closer, Bangor University’s Debating Society have cooperated with Bangor’s Student Union to bring us ‘Candidate Question Time’.

    If you’re familiar with the format and structure of Candidate Question Time, this needs little explanation. If you’re not, here’s the low-down: the host of the debate was Lucy Grimes, the president of the debating society, who questioned the leaders on certain topics: education, welfare, and housing were covered extensively. The parties included in the debate were the Liberal Democrats, Welsh Labour, Welsh Conservatives, UKIP and the Socialist Labour Party. The candidates first introduced themselves in a quick 3 minutes.

    polling stationsWith a swift rise to the floor, Labour candidate Alun Pugh stated that Labour’s values were based on equality. Anwen, the candidate for the Welsh Conservative Party, argued that her party was based on aspirations and ‘to encourage you to dream big’. Hywel Williams, the Plaid Cymru candidate, stands for the people of Wales, who are looking for the opportunity to balance the power in London. Mohammed Shultan, the Liberal Democrats candidate, stated that he wanted to apologise to students for the tuition-fee rises and wants to help undo the damage done. Simon Hall, UKIP candidate, described UKIP as the ‘new kids on the block’ and they want to help Wales develop.

    For a student-led question time, it made sense to open the debate on student tuition fees and living costs. The Labour candidate fully supports the fees being decreased to £6000 for English students studying in Welsh universities. However, the costs for Welsh students studying at Welsh universities was not mentioned. The Welsh Conservative candidate stated her honesty, that tuition fees would not be decreasing under a Conservative led government, much to the displeasure of the students present at question time. The Socialist Labour Party proposed the abolishment of tuition fees on a whole. The UKIP candidate proposed tuition fees being reduced to £3000 for science, maths, and engineering degrees, which definitely disgruntled the arts & humanities students. The Liberal Democrat candidate proposed the tuition fees being reduced after the deficit is reduced.

    Rhys Taylor had organized the four main parties of the Gwynedd area, but a dramatic entrance was made when the Socialist Labour Party candidate wanted her voice heard as part of a democratic debate. Catherine Jones joined us in the debate around half an hour into it. Taylor, who is President of Bangor University’s Student Union, stated that the reason for the SLP candidate not being invited was ‘that we would be inviting candidates who polled more than 10% locally last election, This was decided by the SU prior to invitation, a decision taken as a way of focusing lobbying activity on candidates and parties that may be able to influence government policy after 7th May.

    The debate then moved on to the subject of the living wage. The Socialist Labour Party Candidate stated that the SLP were proposing a £10 an hour minimum wage. Alun Pugh stated that Labour will increase the national minimum wage to £8. Anwen for the Conservatives stated that the living wage should be aspired to. Whilst Hywel Williams stated that ‘people should not be dependent on the state and a move towards a living wage would move them from relying on this’.

    Most of the parties, except UKIP, were opposed to Trident, stating that it could not be justified. The parties finished with discussing sexual and mental health,with Hywel Williams stating that sexual health conditions need to be normalized. However, it needs to be said that most of the parties (Conservatives, UKIP) deflected the question posed, and referred more to mental health conditions.

    Bangor Students’ Union President – Rhys Taylor
    Mohammed Shultan – Liberal Democrats candidate speaking
    Simon Wall – UK Independence Party (UKIP) candidate
    Anwen Barry – Conservative Party Candidate speaking
    Alun Pugh – Labour Party Candidate speaking
    Alun Pugh – Labour Party Candidate
    Anwen Barry – Conservative Party Candidate
    Kathrine Jones – Socialist Labour Party speaking
    Hywel Williams – Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales candidate speaking
    debate students tuition fees UKIP
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Avatar photo
    Eleanor Hirst

    Fashion Editor 2014/15

    Related Posts

    Redevelopment plans and the culture of Bangor

    October 28, 2022

    Immediate closure of Menai Bridge following reports of structural integrity issues

    October 28, 2022

    Racial abuse victim calls for harsher sentencing following nightclub assault

    October 28, 2022

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.