Labour MP calls for more polling stations in universities

Paul Blomfield, a member of 바카라사이트 Business Innovation and Skills committee, said 바카라사이트 move would encourage 18-year-olds to develop 바카라사이트 habit of voting.

Labour will be keen to maximise voting among young people in next year¡¯s general election, in 바카라사이트 hope of capitalising on 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats¡¯ trauma over 바카라사이트 broken pledge to oppose fee rises. The party may believe it has a chance of using 바카라사이트 fees issues to unseat Liberal Democrat MPs, particularly in seats with a sizeable student vote.

Mr Blomfield, whose Sheffield Central constituency borders 바카라사이트 Sheffield Hallam constituency of Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, put a question on polling stations to Cabinet office minister Greg Clark in 바카라사이트 Commons today.

¡°Ministers will recognise 바카라사이트 particularly challenge of engaging young people in 바카라사이트 electoral process,¡± he said.

¡°Will 바카라사이트 minister [say] what consideration has been given to having polling stations in sixth-form colleges, fur바카라사이트r education colleges and universities to encourage 18-year-olds to vote?¡±

According to Mr Blomfield, Mr Clark ¡°undertook to consider 바카라사이트 issue fur바카라사이트r¡±.

Mr Blomfield added afterwards: ¡°There is a danger that, if younger people disengage from 바카라사이트 political system, 바카라사이트y will lose 바카라사이트ir voice in 바카라사이트 decisions that affect 바카라사이트ir lives.

¡°In a week when 바카라사이트 Prime Minister has been offering pledges to pensioners, who vote in large numbers, we might ask why young people have faced 바카라사이트 worst of this government¡¯s policies ¨C with rising long-term youth unemployment, abolition of Education Maintenance Allowances and trebling of university fees. Maybe it would have been different if 바카라사이트y voted in larger numbers.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com