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First-time voters quiz candidates
Eastern Daily Press
Friday 22 Apr 2005 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 =AD both teachers =AD 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."
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