Students attend European Election debate in force

Last night students came out in force to attend a debate between local MEP candidates from the main political parties standing on May 22^nd.

Welfare and Communities Officer George Offer chaired the debate, asking pre-planned questions and later questions from the audience.

Question topics ranged from the influence of the media over membership of the EU, the European Court of Human Rights, views on the TTIP (transatlantic trade investment partnership) and the welfare and liberation policies each party had.

An indicative exit poll was taken with, predictably, the campus political societies voting in favour of their own candidates.

Little support amongst students was shown for the UKIP candidate throughout the debate and in the exit poll. Students showed support at the end for the Labour and Green candidates more than any others but there was no clear winner for the audience.

The debate took place in PX001 between candidates representing the main parties – Gary Shores of the UK Independence Party, Richard Corbett from the Labour Party, Timothy Kirkhope representing the Conservatives, Andrew Cooper for the Green Party and Edward McMillan-Scott standing for the Liberal Democrats.

The candidates gave a minute long speeches about their party policy and personal achievements, outlining their aims for the next five years as the MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Choosing an MEP operates under a different election style to UK general elections, it uses the Closed List system whereby voters choose the party they prefer rather than the individual candidate. The higher the share of votes the party receives in the region, the more candidates from its list it can return.

Elections on May 22^nd will determine who will win the six MEP seats allotted to Yorkshire and the Humber.  Currently the region’s MEP breakdown is 1 Conservative, 1 UKIP, 1 Labour, 1 BNP and 2 Liberal Democrats.