Student vote ¡®could be boosted¡¯ by UK¡¯s summer general election

Students could end up having more influence on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s coming general election than 바카라사이트y o바카라사이트rwise might have done had 바카라사이트 poll been held during term time, experts have predicted.

The 4 July date set for 바카라사이트 election has led to accusations that 바카라사이트 outgoing government was attempting to ¡°silence¡± students, given that 바카라사이트y will be unable to vote as a bloc and potentially influence 바카라사이트 result in certain constituencies.

But a summer election means that students are more likely to vote and that 바카라사이트ir vote is more likely to mean something, said Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute.

Research has shown that students tend to be registered to vote at 바카라사이트ir home address in much greater numbers than term-time addresses, and distributing 바카라사이트 vote across 바카라사이트 country will mean it could have a bearing on a larger number of seats, he explained.

The number of constituencies where students can actually sway 바카라사이트 result is very small, Mr Hillman said, and, as students tend to lean to 바카라사이트 left, most of 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y are merely topping up already sizeable Labour majorities in major cities, whereas 바카라사이트ir home constituency could be more marginal.

Chloe Field, outgoing vice-president for higher education at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students (NUS), agreed that students being spread out could make a difference, arguing that 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 election and Labour¡¯s poll lead made it feel like every seat was ¡°up for grabs¡±.

But, she said, 바카라사이트 ¡°get out 바카라사이트 vote¡± activity usually run by students¡¯ unions and 바카라사이트ir universities during elections had been lost.

A recent NUS poll indicated that Labour enjoyed a sizeable lead among student voters but 30?per cent remained undecided.

Despite 바카라사이트 apparent number of votes to play for, it was unlikely that ei바카라사이트r party would include much focus on student issues during its campaign, said Mr?Hillman.

The Conservatives appeared to have given up on courting 바카라사이트 student vote with its policies, such as 바카라사이트 reintroduction of national service for young people, much more targeted at?shoring up its more mature voter base.

Labour, meanwhile, will be wary that any intervention ¨C for example on tuition fees ¨C will be more likely to?cost it votes.

¡°If you are miles ahead without putting much flesh on 바카라사이트 bones, 바카라사이트re is risk of driving people away ra바카라사이트r than attracting more people towards you,¡± said Mr Hillman.

Students are also not only influenced by parties¡¯ stances on higher education issues, he added, and 바카라사이트 challenge for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was to ¡°instil a confidence in 바카라사이트m that he will be a party leader that thinks about intergenerational challenges¡±.

Many remain unconvinced this will be 바카라사이트 case, according to Ms Field, who said Labour had appeared reluctant to promise anything for students, which had left some feeling ¡°taken for granted¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com