re: question time debate

Folks,

I am back here after a long absence. I’ll try my best to keep you updated with the events taking place in union.
Anyway, let’s get back to the point. On Friday the 12nd of February, Question time debate took place in quayside. We invited all the parliamentary candidates from three mainstream parties: Labour, conservatives and Lib-Dems. On our panel, we also had Andrew cooper who is a councillor from Newsom ward and represents the Green party. And of course, we had Wes Streeting President of the National Union of Students’.
The aim of the debate was to find out about their policies –especially on Education- if they get elected. Despite the low turnout from the students, the debate it self went really well. In fact, on few occasions, it reminded me of the ‘Question time’ in parliament. At times, it got a bit heated between the panel members. Our very own, Barry Sheerman MP, was as usual very vocal and challenging. He just kept going on about on his old mantra of HE should be a scapegoat for the secondary education. It will be worth mentioning his comment he made about students for their campaign on HE last year and called them ‘Lazy’. which, of course, upset students all over the UK.
The range of the questions which were put by audience were, by and large, relating to the HE. Some of the students from the audience asked some other non-educational questions to panel and their party policy lines on that and I must admit that Barry Handled the question quite cleverly. Although I don’t agree with what he says sometimes; but I must admit that he comes across a very rusty politician.
And by listening to the views of all the parliamentary candidates, it sounds to be a tough Election for all the parties and these candidates. Students vote is going to be a very decisive one at the upcoming general elections.
I am not sure that many of you would be aware of Wes Streeting. He is president of NUS and has been in the student movement for past 5 years. He is one the most eloquent speaker I have come across in the student politics. His views comes across very valid and rational. Many serious political critics and pundits have already started wondering: whether they have discovered the future Prime Minister of UK.
The overall impression of the debate was very good and it has been shared by many other attendees. It will be highly unfair for not to mention the contribution which has been made by media and journalism students from Oldham. Professor Mark Handscumb has been very kind to as ever and brought his students to this debate so that it could get filmed. And big thanks to all the executive officers, especially to Haneef Rashid because it was his initiative and he is a very good finisher as we all know.