FIRST-TIME
VOTERS QUIZ CANDIDATES
Source: Eastern Daily Press, UK
Pub date: Saturday, April 23, 2005
Subj: First-time voters quiz candidates
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/
Candidates from across the political spectrum faced first-time voters at
a special hustings in Norwich this afternoon.
The event at City College Norwich brought together six of the eight
candidates for Norwich South.
Education dominated the agenda in the debate, which was organised by the
college and student union, and hosted by UK Youth Parliament members Shane
Frank and Thiabault Jeakings.
Tamzin Cloak challenged the candidates over the AS and A2 level
qualifications, saying her teachers had criticised them as "a bureaucratic
waste of time".
Liberal Democrat candidate Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne and Tory candidate
Antony Little both teachers agreed with the description.
Mr Aalders-Dunthorne called for a more modular system and Mr Little said
AS should be scrapped.
"It should be scrapped not just because it's bureaucratic but
because it's so stressful," he said.
Former education secretary and Labour candidate Charles Clarke said he
"half agreed" that there is too much paperwork but said the system's
flexibility had benefited students.
During questions on differences in funding between schools and colleges
and pay disparity for teachers and further education lecturers, Legalise
Cannabis Alliance candidate Don Barnard said his party's policy would free up
more cash.
"All these things need support and they would get more cash by
legalising cannabis. It could bring in millions of pounds in tax that could pay
for all these things," he said.
The candidates were also challenged on rising visa fees for
international students, a measure introduced by Mr Clarke.
UK Independence Party candidate Vandra Ahlstrom said: "There should
be more equality for students from all countries rather than a EU power block
that acts like a old man's club and benefits some countries and not
others."
Green Party candidate Adrian Ramsay added: "We all benefit from
having students from all over the world studying with us."
Following the event, the candidates mingled with audience members in the
student union bar.
Student Megan Loynes said she had not been swayed by the arguments.
"I supported Labour before and I still, partly from by parents'
views. I think Labour are more for my class of people on the whole."
But Kate Curtis had been persuaded: "I've always quite liked the
Liberal Democrats but I'm coming around to the Greens."
Ben Gotts, who lives at Cromer, said: "I've done some work for
Norman Lamb in North Norfolk, but I was very impressed by Charles Clarke."