GENERAL ELECTION: Parties battle for student votes in marginal

8:31pm Tuesday 27th April 2010 in Oxford West & Abingdon News By Chris Buratta

THE student vote will play a vital role in the battle for the key marginal seat of Oxford East, political hopefuls said last night.

Thousands of residents in the city centre, including many Oxford University colleges, will vote in the constituency for the first time thanks to boundary changes introduced at this election.

The seat, which was held by Labour’s Andrew Smith, is a key target for the Liberal Democrats after they missed out by just 963 votes in 2005.

And both parties have been campaigning hard to win student support.

The city centre wards of Carfax and Holywell, home to more than 8,000 voters including Students at numerous colleges, have been moved from Oxford West & Abingdon to Oxford East as part of a boundary review.

Liberal Democrat candidate Steve Goddard said: “The fact that three of the four city councillors in those wards are Lib Dems suggests it is a good area for us.”

And the university lecturer, who is hoping to make it third time lucky on May 6, said his campaign had targeted the new areas.

But Mr Smith also welcomed the new constituents and warned his challengers not to take anything for granted. He added: “Students vote on a whole range of issues and there is a wide diversity of views.

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“The student vote is very difficult to predict. I have seen different polls and some show us ahead of the Lib Dems. Most will vote for the first time at this General Election so are open to the arguments.”

Oxford University Student Union vice-president for access and academic affairs Jonny Medland said a significant number of students would vote in the city – and their voice would play a vital role.

He said parties had stepped up their campaigning in student areas, although it was not clear last night how many students were registered to vote in the city, rather than at family homes elsewhere. He added: “We have been encouraging people that if they are interested in making a difference and having a vote that counts to vote here in Oxford in this marginal seat.

“It will be close and, if students vote, their voices will be heard.”

The changes were made as part of a UK boundary review to ensure constituencies contained equal numbers of voters.

Comments (7)

8:51pm Tue 27 Apr 10

Scaramuccia says...

gawd elp us all then ! when it comesd to deciding our political future I am with Paul Calf on the student issue - students ? bag o' *****!
gawd elp us all then ! when it comesd to deciding our political future I am with Paul Calf on the student issue - students ? bag o' *****! Scaramuccia

9:37pm Tue 27 Apr 10

Peter macvay says...

It just shows what a sham our so called democracy is when people that will be gone forever in July, can decide who our M.P. is going to be for the next 5 years. Why not just ship a load of illegals into marginals and get them to vote for you as well, oh I forgot, Broon has done that already.
It just shows what a sham our so called democracy is when people that will be gone forever in July, can decide who our M.P. is going to be for the next 5 years. Why not just ship a load of illegals into marginals and get them to vote for you as well, oh I forgot, Broon has done that already. Peter macvay

1:42am Wed 28 Apr 10

eastoxresident says...

I can't understand the objection to students voting - at least they're intelligent and educated well enough to make informed decisions!
I can't understand the objection to students voting - at least they're intelligent and educated well enough to make informed decisions! eastoxresident

9:08am Wed 28 Apr 10

LadyPenelope says...

I don't see the issue. They've lived there long enough to make a sensible decision on voting. Why should they have to vote at "home", when they might not be moving there after leaving Oxford?
I don't see the issue. They've lived there long enough to make a sensible decision on voting. Why should they have to vote at "home", when they might not be moving there after leaving Oxford? LadyPenelope

9:52am Wed 28 Apr 10

Joe Cooke says...

Why should they vote in Oxford and make desicions that affect us then they clear off, they should vote where they are really from i.e not Oxford. Oxford for real oxonians!
Why should they vote in Oxford and make desicions that affect us then they clear off, they should vote where they are really from i.e not Oxford. Oxford for real oxonians! Joe Cooke

11:44am Wed 28 Apr 10

online_reader says...

Students are intelligent adults, but usually with limited experience of the economic and social needs of a community because most things have been paid for and arranged for them. Even prisoners are allowed to vote now though, so I can't see the situation changing, unless you want to raise the voting age back to 21.
Students are intelligent adults, but usually with limited experience of the economic and social needs of a community because most things have been paid for and arranged for them. Even prisoners are allowed to vote now though, so I can't see the situation changing, unless you want to raise the voting age back to 21. online_reader

12:56pm Fri 30 Apr 10

CLLR KEN TIWARI says...

Chris Buratta writes for Oxford Mail,-
and it Reads:-Students Votes will play
vital role in this marginal Oxford East?

I am not sure, why the writers think
the students voting is any differents
From ordinary residents-voters, here
in Oxford East, or Oxford west?

As far as I think, its the Candidates, who plays the Role of centr-forward
not only for those wretched parties,-

who use us,to benefits some people
by getting one member of its family
nominating and second one cinfims him?
And using us, for all the dirty work for them, the cunning ones?

and Squndring hard earned mony earned by us.

Whoever is Elected, (he/she)must- Have our Country before party!

I havent forgot how hard I/we worked for
Evan Luard Elected as our first- Labour MP for City of Oxford, he only left us in Cold, created SDP-then

The Candidates must put Country-Before Party, as David Cameron did
said so, many time !

the way some MPs behaved Recently
I think, Oxford-east is lucky to have a
MP-who is clean so far, I think?

**** the parties, I will vote for a Candidate, and not the wretched Parties.


I think, all these parties should be abolished?

soon as possible?
Chris Buratta writes for Oxford Mail,- and it Reads:-Students Votes will play vital role in this marginal Oxford East? I am not sure, why the writers think the students voting is any differents From ordinary residents-voters, here in Oxford East, or Oxford west? As far as I think, its the Candidates, who plays the Role of centr-forward not only for those wretched parties,- who use us,to benefits some people by getting one member of its family nominating and second one cinfims him? And using us, for all the dirty work for them, the cunning ones? and Squndring hard earned mony earned by us. Whoever is Elected, (he/she)must- Have our Country before party! I havent forgot how hard I/we worked for Evan Luard Elected as our first- Labour MP for City of Oxford, he only left us in Cold, created SDP-then The Candidates must put Country-Before Party, as David Cameron did said so, many time ! the way some MPs behaved Recently I think, Oxford-east is lucky to have a MP-who is clean so far, I think? **** the parties, I will vote for a Candidate, and not the wretched Parties. I think, all these parties should be abolished? soon as possible? CLLR KEN TIWARI

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