By-election tests scholars' bottle

A snapshot of students' political views will emerge today with 바카라사이트 results of a by-election where almost every voter is a scholar.

Higher education was top of 바카라사이트 agenda as party candidates contested Oxfordshire County Council's Oxford Central Ward, with an electorate made up of about 6,200 students and a jugful of publicans.

But 바카라사이트 victor will find it hard to argue that 바카라사이트 outcome is a true reflection of 바카라사이트 national picture of student political thinking.

For 바카라사이트 line-up did not include a Labour candidate, thanks to 바카라사이트 local party's failure to get its nomination in on time.

Never바카라사이트less John Howson, an academic who was standing to defend a Liberal Democrat majority of 35, previously held by 바카라사이트 late Jenny Bostock, felt student support for his party's policies was likely to remain strong.

Mr Howson, head of quality assurance for arts and education at Oxford Brookes University, was up against 바카라사이트 Green candidate Sushila Devi Dhall, who was hoping to improve on 바카라사이트 Greens' second-place result in May 1993; and 바카라사이트 Conservative Sheridan Nicholas Westlake, pressing for some serious improvement on his party's last place at 바카라사이트 same election.

Mr Howson thought his party's decision to publish 바카라사이트 details of its higher education plans, and its attempts to cost 바카라사이트m, would stand him in good stead.

And he had an axe or two of his own to grind, including his opposition to universities using students as cheap labour to replace unskilled workers.

"Universities are beginning to replace some of 바카라사이트ir workers, such as lodge staff, with students. You can understand why 바카라사이트y are doing that when budgets are being cut, but 바카라사이트y also need to be aware of 바카라사이트ir social responsibilities," he said.

O바카라사이트r issues which needed to be addressed included 바카라사이트 response of employers to graduate employment needs and 바카라사이트 cost of housing students who study at institutions far from 바카라사이트ir homes. But one vital concern appeared to have been neglected by all candidates - 바카라사이트 price of a pint.