Sam Townend for Bristol North West

Students favour Labour in Bristol

Last week saw the students’ political clubs signing up new members across Bristol University and UWE campuses in Bristol as part of the annual Freshers’ fairs.

Bristol Labour Students signed up 122 new members- massively up on last year’s 68- and the highest in recent times.  Tories were down with about 70 members and the Liberal Democrats were nowhere with 40-something members.

Gus Baker, Chair of Bristol Labour Students said, “This is a massive vote of confidence in Labour by students in Bristol.  Labour has opened up access to universities such as Bristol and UWE to all and the introduction of bursaries and grants has meant that young people from all backgrounds are coming to university.  We have great candidates in Sam Townend for Bristol North West and Paul Smith for Bristol West and will be doing what we can to get them and local MPs elected.”

Sam Townend said, “The Tories arrogantly assume victory across the board in Bristol.  It is clear now that there is a choice between Labour, a Party that has striven to make access to higher education available to all, and the Conservatives, who want to limit who can go to university.  The antics of their leader in Bristol, Cllr Richard Eddy, who has wanted a Golliwog as their mascot and regards money to support a Bristol-based anti-homophobic bullying charity as a complete waste, also puts younger people off the Tories.  

Paul Smith, who faces Lib Dem Universities spokesman Stephen Williams says, “Students have no faith in the Lib Dems.  How can they when they were handing out “scrap the tuition fees” stickers, but the local Lib Dem MP has done all he can to get his Party to jettison that policy.  The Lib Dems are a ‘dead duck’ in Bristol parliamentary politics.”