Milford Mercury | Local News, Sport & Entertainment

Pupils quiz candidates

From the Milford Mercury, first published Thursday 28th Apr 2005.

TEENAGERS looking forward to casting their first votes in a General Election next Thursday had an opportunity to quiz Preseli Pembrokeshire's hopefuls this week.

Sixth form pupils of Tasker Milward School organised a lunchtime debate where five candidates were grilled on topics including public transport, university tuition fees and asylum seekers.

Head Boy Sam Morris said: "There are a lot of first time voters here who weren't sure who to vote for and what the candidates stood for, so we were looking to raise issues in the debate which concern younger people."

Education was the first topic under discussion, and with tuition and top-up fees the main bugbear of the students, Labour's Sue Hayman came in for criticism about her party's u-turn on top-up fees.

Kirsty Harrington said: "Labour told lies about top up fees by saying they were not introducing them and they have."

Sue said she didn't agree with the principle of top-up fees but added `something else would have to give' if tuition fees were abolished, a promise made by all the other candidates.

There were no signs of voter apathy when Pembrokeshire's "absolutely appalling" public transport system stirred the passions of the 50 or 60 students.

The discussion then turned to the issue of immigration and asylum, with former Taskers pupil Stephen Crabb under scrutiny over the quota system proposed by the Conservatives.

The session ended with rallying calls to young voters.

Plaid Cymru's Matt Mathias said: "I can promise hard work and can deliver that because I'm from Pembrokeshire and know the problems with affordable housing and lack of jobs."

Liberal Democrat Dewi Smith said: "We have the policies to work hard and do the good will people want. We are the real alternative to the two main parties."

Green candidate Molly Scott Cato said the election's main issue was climate change: "But the main issue is not being addressed, it's being sidelined by the media and main parties" she added.

Conservative Stephen Crabb said: "If you really care about Pembrokeshire, vote for me; someone genuinely committed to this area who will bang the drum for Pembrokeshire in Westminster."

Sue Hayman, Labour, said: "I think I can really do a good job at taking what you want to Westminster and I will bring that back to Pembrokeshire."

One of the best questions came from a pupil who asked why the candidates had not engaged with the county's young voters and seemed to ignore them.

Unfortunately, the question could not be answered, but the debate certainly invigorated the students who will no doubt be rushing to the polling stations next week.

Archive Home