Current York student Alan Belmore and York graduate Tom Scott were both unsuccessful in their bids to become MPs.
Belmore, a first-year from Vanbrugh College, lost the Hemsworth seat to Labour’s John Trickett. He was also beat by Conservative Ann Myles, but with a respectable 5,667 votes, he still triumphed over UKIP Ian Womersley and BNP’s Ian Kitchen.
“I am very pleased with the result. It is a shame that our current political system creates safe seats such as these and jobs for life for the MP.”
Ex-YUSU President Mad Cap’n Tom Scott, who ran as an independent, finished last in the Cities of London and Westminster, with 84 votes. Conservative Mark Field predictably won, in what has traditionally been a safe Tory seat.
Scott however, does not seem too distraught by the outcome, commenting on his blog that “I not be givin’ a damn. Why? Because in the last couple o’ weeks, I be havin’ a grand time. I be makin’ thousands o’ people smile. I be tourin’ London wi’ a toy duck on me head. An’ I be havin one hell of a story t’ tell.”
Furthermore, he states that Mad Cap’n Tom will be stepping out of the limelight for some time. “I be droppin’ th’ pirate accent, hangin’ up me tricorn hat, an’ givin’ Brian th’ Duck some much needed rest.”