Counting On The Student Vote
When I meet Steve he’s clutching a bundle of flyers in a valiant attempt to defend them from the rain. One of his first remarks is that he’s run out of the big posters. It soon becomes apparent why. As we enter Demesne Furze Estate, one can’t fail to notice the spattering of bright yellow paper being displayed in various windows. Interestingly, in our two hours of door-knocking there was no visible propaganda for either of the other main parties.
Whilst Goddard’s team may have simply been more aggressive in dispersing their ‘literature’, one gets the impression that it hasn’t been met with too much resentment. Oxford East is a fairly mixed community and that is reflected in this relatively diverse estate. “Are there any national issues you’d like to talk about?” Steve asks having introduced himself and, providing they don’t look too formidable, me. More often than not, the answer is no.
Apathetic groups of students and recent immigrants without much English account for much of this. “Not everyone does think of something when they’re put on the spot,” he croons, “but we think it’s polite to ask”. Like most politicians, he’s really more interested in finding out where his support lies, but makes a good effort to connect with his potential constituents. Out of all the houses we visit, only one man says he will definitely vote New Labour.
He’s a member of the Labour party. Of the rest, the majority specify that they will not be voting Labour, even if they haven’t yet decided which candidate they wish to support. The latter is true of all but one student house, where a young man in boxer-shorts with immaculate hair opens the door to announce, “We’re all Tories in this house”. Even here, Goddard attempted to impress the effectiveness of tactical voting. This seemed to be the emphasis of his campaign.
“It’s us or Labour,” he repeatedly told the undecided. “We really stand a very good chance this time,” he chummily assured those who had expressed support. Oxford East is undoubtedly an extremely marginal seat. The student vote will be very important in Oxford East. There are more registered students in the constituency than the Labour Party’s majority, with the respective figures being approximately 15,000 to 10,334.
The Liberal Democrats’ policies may well appeal to the student population, most obviously because they promise to entirely scrap tuition fees. The fact that this will be paid for by the proposed tax rate of 50 per cent on incomes exceeding £100,000 is unlikely to have an immediately negative effect upon today’s students.
Goddard, however, justifies the plan on the basis that those earning top level incomes in the future will largely be graduates who have benefited from a free university education. It’s just unfortunate for those students who are currently immersing themselves in debt if they’re successful whilst the Liberal Democrats are in power.
The potentially unpopular tax rates will not, of course, deter the disproportionately large amount of academics living in Oxford from voting Lib Dem, whilst they may are likely to be attracted by the promise of more government resources going to Universities. Steve Goddard is himself a lecturer at Queen’s College, although he will resign from his post if elected. He also hopes the party’s green policies will appeal to Oxford students.
There is an environmental element to every area of the Liberal Democrat manifesto and he is a personal advocate of reducing pollution – through promoting public transport – and finding alternative energy sources. In keeping with this, he’s never learnt to drive and travels everywhere by bike.
On a local level, Goddard would lobby for a good proportion of the 10,000 extra police the party is proposing to go to Thames Valley and would encourage more relaxed licensing laws in order to discourage the ‘binge-drinking’ culture. The only issues brought up by residents are tax related and a direct criticism of the present government. ‘We work harder for the government than any other country in Europe’ rants one angry elector.
Living on a road full of students however, his ears prick when Steve tells him that the Liberal Democrats will abolish council tax. He claims to express the grievance of many residents when he complains the students are exempt and the landlords avoid taxation by using foreign bank accounts. As much as can be expected, when calling on people around dinner time, the response from the people we speak to is positive and usually at least interested.
Steve is certainly optimistic: “I’m feeling very happy about the election,” he said. “I’m enjoying campaigning and seem to be getting a very positive response from people on the doorstep. There’s a lot of disillusionment with Labour and we’re getting more positive feedback than the Conservatives. People really believe we can win this time. I know I do.
28th Apr 2005