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,-Iiiti Vv' Weds Student RIG NAME S ''''''.'• 4 Exclusive interviews with Blair, Hague and Kennedy

• • • •••.• ., • • • •

POWE ;AMES he fight for Leeds, plus vw to pick

• your perfect party

Friday June 1 2001 ELFACTION 2001 3 We are not apathetic Contents Page 4

eventy-four per cent of Leeds cent of you could name all of them). keep its place in Sun during its time in students say they will vote in the But we've also delved deeper into the power. The man that made it all possible of Tony Blair eneral election. It's a decisive murky pool of politics. With many course is , Blair's Mgblow to the Idea that students do predicting that this election will have the notorious Press Secretary. But he wasn't not care about politics. Other recent polls lowest turn-out since 1918, something is the first man who span the press round his The PM talks drugs, fees have pointed to mass apathy amongst our clearly rotten in our state • but what is it? little finger We talk to Bernard Ingham and sleaze generation. But not so in Leeds. Turn to page t2 for a cunning plan to put (p.13), who was Thatcher's press man. the people back into politics. Our survey also said that the one thing And the main reason why we don't Page 5 vote, is not that we don't care, but that we But even that might not be enough to you would change about our country is don't feel we know enough to make a re-energise the system. We also asked you tuition fees. When asked, what you would 1141 good decision. Of those who said they who you thought held most power in our do if you became Prime Minister, 22 per William weren't voting, 38 per cent said it was country and a whopping 79 per cent of cent said they would abolish fees. To find because they were too uninformed. you didn't think it was the government. out exactly what the parties' packages will Hague 48 per cent of you thought the media mean for student pockets, check out page That's where this guide comes in. We've The top Tory on what he probed Blair, Hague and Kennedy an your really pulled the strings in Britain. If so, it's t4. behalf. We've sized up the local candidates no wonder New Relax, have a read and then vote - you can offer young people Labour has know it makes sense. and down-sized their manifestoes. Now it's f. up to you to choose between our four been so CR Page 6 lovely lads in Leeds North West (even if keen only 3 per to Charles Kennedy The Lib Dem leader promises to abolish tuition fees

Your at-glance-guide to Page 7 what the parties can offer you Mini manifestos

Page 8-9 We matchmake you with three Your perfect lovely lads party

Page 10-11 Survey results in full The fight -,. for LS6 Will you vote in the general election? Who do you think holds most power in Britain? ,-----.er. , The local candidates weigh in - ' . PI ,... 74% Page 12 ?r , i 00 '.: - - 21% 25% 31% ,e,,d_• 4-.,.....a r- --,,,,,. „-. To fee or :'5,r,:--4 wit 2% Government Media Business Other not to fee 10,10. r. ,;01-r - t °t' Al An incredible 79 per cent of those polled did not think that the What the parties' # - Yes No Don't know government held the most power in this country. The United States and packages mean for the i A startling 74 per cent of students say they intend to vote in the drug barons were also named as the people who really call the shots. forthcoming election. Other polls of students have pointed to mass One person said he thought the people held the most power, student pocket i apathy amongst our generation - not so in Leeds. Name the leaders of the three main political parties Who will you vote for? We talk to Bernard Page 13 A. reassuring 9f1 per cent could name Tony Blair as the leader of the Labour Party. Corning in a close second, 89 per cent were able to identify William Ingham, the first Hague as top Tory. Only 60 per cent knew Charles Kennedy leads the Lib Westminster Doctor Spinning 10% 37% 22% 31% Derns, although most Knew he was 'ginner' and "Scottish", power Name the candidates for Leeds North West Labour Tory Lib Dem Other Not a good sign for our local candidates as only 26 per cent are able Page 14 Is it the system, not the Bad news for Labour as only 22 per cent of those intending to vote to name our current MP, Harold Best, as the tabour candidate; only 12 government that needs name the party in power as their choice on polling day. Good news per cent had heard of Tory Adam Pritchard; a mere 4.5 per cent could to be changed? for the Lib Dems and for the Greens who were chosen by seven per name Lib Dem David Hall-Matthews, despite the fact he is a Leeds Demo-crazy cent of those polled_ University lecturer, and three per cent had heard of the UK If you aren't voting, why not? Independence party contender, Andrew Spence. .%‘'',' .,,,\' til l Page 15 Those who do not intend to vote were asked why. 38 per cent said they If you became Prime Minister, what single change were too uninformed about politics, 19 per cent said they didn't care, 15 would you make? per cent said they had lost faith in the political system and B per cent \ Playground said they didn't think their vote would make a difference. Given the chance to grab the reigns of power, 22 per cent said they would ,.„.- politics How much do you think government policy affects abolish tuitions fees, tight per cent would legalise cannabis before they e L did anything else when they moved into Number 10. Other wannabe your life? premiers declared their intention to cancel third world debt, bring in all Opinion was split as 54 per cent thought government policies make 'a let' night drinking, stop listening to the US and shoot Tony Blair, Several The bully-boy tactics of of difference to their lives, while 15 per cent said government affected people called for polygamy to be legalised while, in a radical move, two of them 'very little'. those polled suggested making election pledges legally binding. our top politicians

3 ELECTION 2001

In this exclusive interview, the Prime Minister tells us why he brought in fees, how he plans to fight sleaze, what he The Blair thinks of cannabis and shares his deepest fears necessities

ony Blair is a bit of worrier. In four power-packed yeas he how you deal with them. Where people have fallen down, then has gone from a bushy-haired barrister made good to the action has been taken against them." greying bespectacled premier we now recognise. As he lies The most famous incident of one of his MPs 'falling down' was awake fretting about the forthcoming election. a million of course when his deputy. John Prescott, was pushed thoughts must spin through his brain. There are the worries that wee to the ground as action was taken against him by an hairless Leo may bear a slight resemblance to that other famous angry farm labourer - whom he had just punched. political baldy, Hague. There's Geri Halliwell's assertion that she Perhaps Blair might consider legalising "genuinely admires and believes in him." cannabis. Who knows, it might help to de-stress But as the sweat starts to form, there is another greater fear that people and make them less aggressive? must plague our PM. Something - perhaps the only thing - that could However he believes that heat him when we go to the polls next Thursday. That thing is -decriminalising cannabis apathy. would send out the wrong In the 1997 election only 2 per cent more people voted Labour signal. The evidence than chose apathy. Despite the Leeds Student survey showing that 74 increasingly shows per cent of you will vote, this election is likely to have the lowest serious harmful effects turn out since 1918. Now, for Blair, that's scary. from the regular use of Tackling this shadowy ogre may not be as easy as striking down soft drugs like his other political opponents. Blair's first blow is not altogether cannabis. We are decisive: "Voting matters. It does change investigating, things. Perhaps not as fast as you - and I - would like but don't fall however, whether for this nonsense that all parties are the same and that it makes no derivatives of difference who is in government." cannabis should be With his nemesis momentarily stunned. he tries to consolidate his prescribed as position - and land a cheeky punch on the nose of his other great medicines for those fear. "I realise we have an awful lot more to do to spread prosperity Stith certain health and opportunity to every family and problems." every community in the country. But we have made a real start in It's clear that his building a modern, fairer, more prosperous country. priorities lie elsewhere. "Whether we get that chance or whether the Tories sneak hack in They are, unsurprisingly. through the back door - through the cynicism they are trying to slightly more weighty than an spread - will he down to you on election day," he says. eighth. He lists his party's greatest But there is another angry mob that he might have to deal with - achievements as showing they "can us. His promise of spreading "prosperity and opportunity" may well run the economy competently so that ring hollow in the ears of many students. A promise is often not nflat ion. interest rates and really a promise at election time and Labour's pledge before the unemployment are low and the part we 1997 election that it had "no plans" to introduce tuition fees is one have played in supporting the courage of that sticks in the mind. After they broke their word, many students the leaders and people of Northern found themselves much less prosperous. Ireland as they make progress towards a "We were determined that more people would have the benefits lAsting and just peace." Looks like he has a few you're reasons to sleep easy after all. "I believe decriminalising cannabis sitting in one as you read Interview by Alex Belardinelli would send out the wrong signal. this. HMOs are and Clare Rude beck houses with more The evidence increasingly shows than five occupants and there arc a lot of them in Hyde serious harmful effects from the Park and Headingley. The idea behind the licensing scheme is to regular use of soft drugs like ensure that basic health and safety cannabis" measures were met in these houses. Many think it's a good idea, but it's not one that's made it onto the statute of good-quality university education," he says, neatly side-stepping book yet. When would Labour bring it in the point. "Numbers are now growing as is investment in Higher if we gave them a second chance? Education, But we want to do more which is why we have set a "We have announced plans to improve finthei target, in our manifesto, of 50 per cent of young people going into health and safety of houses in multiple occupation. higher education." including a licensing system for high risk rented But then he steps in with an impressive counter-attack. "Our housing in the private sector, covering things like fire and policy at the last election was to consider any proposals for further gas safety. These proposals are over and above existing powers reform from the Dearing Committee,- he says, referring to the group available to local authorities to ensure that housing is safe - set up by the Tories to tackle the crisis in Higher Education funding Looks like they haven't quite got round to setting a date yet. while they were still in power. "In the event, the Dearing Committee said the only way to expand higher education was to make the andleson, Vac and Robinson are three names also individuals who benefit most from higher education - graduates guaranteed to get the PM on the defensive. When 1,, themselves - hear more of the cost." So, you see, he didn't break his came into power, he promised us a "whiter than white' word on fees and the Tories started it anyway. 1I administration. But it didn't quite work out that way. One thing that can't he denied is that he's certainly kept his eye "I don't recall these actual words," he says, displaying memory on the issue over the last four years. He said he'd make changes and loss that a professional boxer would be proud of. "But if you are he did (even if they weren't the ones he said he would). And that's asking whether we have kept our commitment to improve standards more than can be said for another 1997 election promise: the pledge in public life and to make Government more accountable and to "introduce a mandatory licensing scheme for Houses of Multiple transparent, I believe we have. Occupancy (HMOs)". "Like any other Government, of course, there have been events Whether you've heard of an HMO or not, it's pretty likely that and situations you would prefer hadn't happened but what matters is Friday June 1 2001 ELECTION 2001

William Hague continues to struggle with the legacy of the Game, set, Iron Lady. We find out what his game plan is to claim victory in Thatcher his own right

y illiam wants to be your mate. He wants you to join him understands the offside rule. He has a lot of respect for Tim course it will he a ',nigh light. but I have never been afraid of ir for idle afternoons playing pooh-sticks in rural rivers in Henman. And he wears jeans on Saturdays, But he's not like other lighting hard For what I believe in." Fifteen love. rural parts of his rural constituency in rural North guys. He just wants you to think he is But alas those Europeans have always had more tricks up their . And then he wants to don his slacks and sidle When young Master Hague swept onstage at the Conservatives' sleeves. Better service. Cleaner volleys, Nattier outfits, While the off with you to a quiet little alehouse 1974 election rally - sky high on rhetoric and gushing like a sixth British terrier has always struggled to make his mark, unable to !Or a ruin and coke chaser former on speech day - the blue- rinse brigade glimpsed a leader in clinch glory on his own sodding turf, those subtle Scandinavians and and a chat with his the making. In this boy-wonder, this little Sir Nicholas on speed, wily Gemtans have somehow oozed success like the winning chums. He's one they sneaked a peek into the Party's crystal hall. Here was a boy formula was just something else to pour on their muesli. And unlike of the blokes. who chose not Kevin Keegan. nor the blonde one from Ahba. those reassuringly expensive strawberries & cream. for the True but to adorn his bedroom wall. And Brit, this sense of frustration has been hard to swallow. now. as the nation teeters on the brink of another general Unsurprisingly then, Mr Hague will not he throwing in the towel to election - Britain's sixth since William's first bite at the those sneaky Europeans should his party do the unthinkable and political cherry - there he is... leader. The leader of prevent Labour from slicing their way into the second round: his beloved Conservative Party. But there the "Joining the Euro is a very risky venture. There are real political and fairytale ends. economic dangers. We are ruling out joining the Euro for the Frankly. William Hague is the man least likely. lifetime of the next Parliament because the British people need to Not since the Whigs and the Libs locked horns early see whether those political and economic risks come true over an last century has a Conservative leader gone into a economic c ycle." general election with such a dismal chance of "Our economy is very different from those on continental Europe actually becoming Prime Minister. The very and a one-sire-fits-all interest rate could do real damage to British thought recalls the forlorn (yet not quite businesses - just look at what happened when we were members of inconceivable) notion of a But wincing the rRm_ Aiming the political risks is that a single currency could Wimbledon. But Mad to tax and spending while we might powers being transferred to think that, "I've always said it is important not to Brussels too. Lose those Hague couldn't patronise young people — they are powers and you lose your possibly comment: independence as a nation." "The Conservative interested in the economy, crime, limmm. Thirty love? Party can win the Preparing to return my next election by Europe and our schools and hospitals service, Hague readjusts his speakin g baseball cap. He's sprightly honestly and just like everyone else" when on the hack foot. and directly to the while he might well have needs and values of the British people." He been horn mithile.aged, he's actually only just hit forty. This, he certainly speaks with all the gritty says. provides ample reason why young people should re-think the determination of a wild carded Briton stereotype that the Conservatives are playing in a different park to clubbing backhands in the twilight on Court the under-30s: "I've always said it is important not to patronise 27, the intermittent flutter of young people - they are interested in the economy, crime. Europe applause from a die-hard contingent his last and our schools and hospitals just like everyone else. But of line of defence. Yet one particular interest to younger voters will he our new cannot but think that, like the radon' tennis student loans package." Forty love? Now, hold coach dreaming of raising the Union Jack. on... that hall was clearly our Mr Hague can't realistically he hoping Mr more than a couple of break points and a beaker of squash when it's it the surface, then, an alternative to the current no-win aft over. "Of situation faced by students would seem to put the Tories hack on the front foot in terms of the 'yoof' vote. "At the moment you will have to start paying your loan hack as soon as you are earning C10,030 a year. We will double that figure to £20,000. We will also offer graduates a fixed period for the repayment of loans. without any prepayment penalties, and provide those paying off loans an estimated f3,500 a year tax allowance for ten years. As a result, a graduate on 80 per cent of average earnings should he paying around £200 less." Forty fifteen. Hague's strategy for higher education includes a plan to free universities from dependency on the state by means of an endowment fund. This cash would be derived from as-yet unidentified privatisation programmes and an airwave free-for-all. The latter could well result in an initial surge of entrepreneurial activity, swiftly followed by a saturated radio market doggedly fighting over the same listeners, As grand plans go it's not awe- inspiring. What's more. it could lead to a climate in which 'freed' universities simply treat us as consumers rather than modems: hiking tuition fees and pricing us out of the library. "That is simply not the case. As a condition of receiving the endowment, universities must agree not to charge top up fees to students and the process of endowing universities will he a progressive one.- Forty thirty. But. student voters MUM. also be careful to read between the tram lines. Considering that the Conservatives have mooted the idea of selling off our debts to private loan companies. It doesn't take Carol Vordcrmann to work out that what these proposals really equate to is little better, and probably much worse, than the fine financial mess that New Labour have got us into. Indeed. the phrase 'caught between the devil and the deep blue sea' has never had such eerie resonance. Which brings us squarely to deuce. As for you Mr Hague. play has been suspended until Thursday.

Interview by Alex helerdinelle end Arm Doi*. Friday June 1 2001 6 ELECTION 2001

Charles Kennedy is touting himself as 'the future of politics'. Paul Gallagher meets a man attempting to extend the record CK one number of Liberal Democrat seats

Kennedy is all our aware of the Lump/dole were III lavour of it and so were they evidently. different image he portrays when stood in but they didn't tell anyone about it but it was comparison with Sir Paddy. an imperial the right thing to do." Ulsterman and former 11I6 man who decided to According to Kennedy. a "potentially joie the marines at the tender age of 18. seismic shift" in political power is on the "There were people who questioned whether horizon should the Conservatives perform it would work or not hut. when 1 sat down with worse at the polls than four years ago. "The David Steel. he said it wouldn't he a problem depression and dismay in the Conservative after the first tangible achievement. And then Party has to he seen to he believed." we won the Romsey hi-election." when the Lib Dismay with politics in general across Dents overturned a Tory majority of 8,15 in Britain is set to hit a record low in 2001. The all May 2000. "and things hegan to settle down. I time low turnout of 64 per cent at die 1997 didn't consciously seek to cultivate my own election is twine predicted by several image though. if there is One it would he a case pscphological studies to hit an apathetic el° per of 'what you see is what you gel' for better Or cent this time round. Kennedy puts it down to worse. Britain having a century old political structure "I know you have to make a lot of faces in while the rest of the world moved on a long politics but I can't he bothered making faces in time ago. real life. if you know what I mean." Having been prompted by his secretary for T It e the second conversation time to wrap naturally turns to the interview the upcoming 'Education, Education, Education.' up la debate election. Having on pension secured a record A stammer or a promise? "Never policy awaits number of 47 the diminutive seals at the 1997 trust a politician who says the Scotsman), I general election. realise their Kennedy sounds same thing three times," can only he naturally one topic left confident that the Kennedy laughs to discuss: party can secure tuition fees. further gains Student debt despite the ever increasing Labour lead in the has ((elided in the period between the last two polls. "The potential is certainly there to win comprehensive surveys were carried out in more votes. Given the vagaries of the first-past- 1995-6 and 1998-9. Last year the Education the-post system seats are more difficult to and Employment Minister, Tessa Blackstone. predict. but if the votes go in our direction then claimed that most students received enough we can certainly make more gains. financial support to meet their essential costs. "I don't want to harp on about Romscy but "The key thing that needs to be done is what that must suggest something about our voting has already happened in Scotland, namely the potential." abolition of tuition fees. We need that policy in the rest of England. What is apparent is that the ehtsispipteaerbtveingeheasntcreems eli...enpnoesitdyivcapapbcoaurst number of Scots applying to courses in England is decreasing highlighting the fact rather glum on one of the official they are clearly nut prepared to pay fees." election posters (below). A Perhaps when Tony Blair said I 'Education, Education. sign of his disappointment with how Britain is beitig run Education', he was having today'? trouble with a stammer "I think it was more rather than making a of a reflection on the prorm se? photographer. "All I can say is Kennedy chuckle,. never trust a politician -They wanted who says the same something which made thing three times.- look rather stern Kennedy laughs. '' and frustrated, and But seriously. it is anxious about the obvious that people state of the counir. from poorer and what we were backgrounds are being going to do about it. A discriminated against and stern photo, not a smtley that is appaling," However, one. what Kennedy fails to point out is that if the Lih Dems r1 itting just inside' the Liberal Democrats' fa move the BBC Correspondent John Simpson "Some people might were in power, tuition fees offices in the House of Commons, you described as 'the unthinkable' when his former believe the economy to would be abolished but just can't help but notice a large poster, colleague Martin Bell did so in 1997 in Tamil). be in safe hands with h. students would instead be faced propped up behind a chair. with the -Journalism seemed like a natural platform into Labour but it would be sso safer with us. The "prudent with paying a £2,000 rather serious looking face of the party leader politics for me. It proved to be an invaluable contribution {as in Scotland) staring down at you with the words: 'Charles experience for later years in polities because Chancellor, to use one of once they've earned more Kennedy The Future of Polities.. Looking up at you knew how the media worked. you knew his favourite words. than £10.000 when they the Lib Dem staff emersed in their duties. it is what deadlines were so you could tinker and did something in his graduate. quite obvious that strenuous preparations are tailor your contribution to maximum effect." first week in power afoot for the upcoming election. It is then that I Kennedy is indeed using this very same which was in our Unfortunately. am ushered upstairs to wait just a few seconds technique as we speak for sitting to my right is manifesto and be fore I can longer outside Kennedy's own office and a journalist from the Sunday Times and it wasn't in theirs - address the point kindly informed by a secretary how sorry they becomes quickly apparent most of his attention independence the hourglass are of the delay. It's clear a lot of people want is directed toward her for the benefit of his of the Bank stops and the a slice of the leader's time, One group of profile which she is compiling all that week. [of England! Liberal people are ushered away. and I am But who can blame him? Our circulation - which in Democrat leader simultaneously ushered in. Figures haven't quite hit those heights just yet. itself is a apologises fo dhis Charles Kennedy, an English graduate from Having heen elected to replace Paddy self-correcting t i me and Glasgow university. first went into journalism Ashdown as leader of [he Liberal Democrats in mechanism in whisked away for his and became a broadcaster with BBC Highland 1999. Kennedy is full of praise for his terms of umpteenth but soon made the transformation into politics predecessor proclaiming he could not have management of appointment of the wished for a smoother transition. However, the economy. We day. • Friday June 1 2001 ELECTION 2001 7

Don't know who to vote for? Check out Two minute what delights the parties are trying to manifestos tempt you with...

Labour Conservatives Lib Dems

'Ambitions for Britain' 'It's time for common sense' 'Freedom, justice, honesty'

Education Education: Education • 50 per cent of young people in University education by • Privatise student loans • Abolish university tuition fees 2010 • Loans to be repaid when earnings exceed €20,000 • Restore grants for poor students and access to benefits for all • 10,000 more teachers • Free universities from reliance on state funding by giving during the summer holidays them a large lump sum to invest • Raise the salary threshold at which student loans are repaid Employment from El 0,000 to E13,000 per year • Minimum wage up to f4.10 in October Employment: • Extend the New Deal to the over-25s, lone parents and • Contract out the job-finding work of the Employment Service Employment disabled people • Entitle every 1624 year-old to study leave with pay Environment: • Replace the New Deal with a Flexible Guarantee of help for all Environment: • Abolish the Climate Change Levy jobseekers Their manifesto claims that Labour, is leading the international effort to tackle climate change. Crime: Environment: • Increase police numbers • Press other nations to ratify and implement the 1997 Kyoto Crime • Abolish Labour's 'early release scheme' for prisoners and protocol by 2002 • Tougher sentencing for repeat offenders ensure full sentences are served • Establish a new target of a 20 per cent reduction in CO, • 6,000 more police recruits • Take persistent young offenders off the streets emissions by 2010

Health Health Crime • 20,000 extra nurses • Guarantee limits on waiting times • Recruit 6,000 extra police officers • 10,000 extra doctors • Remove tax penalty on private medical insurance • Give victims greater rights to be heard in court • Cut waiting times to six months • Mixed sex ward abolished and modern matrons to ensure Foreign policy Health clean wards and good food, • Stop any more power transfer from Westminster to Brussels • More nurses and doctors • No European army outside NATO • Increase salary of lowest paid NHS staff by f1,000 on average Foreign policy • No entry into a single currency • A referendum on the single currency, if given go ahead • Global free trade by 2020 Foreign policy • Oppose the National Missile Defence Immigration and Asylum Immigration and Asylum System (NMD). • 1,000 new immigration officers in ports around the country • Compulsory detention of all asylum seekers in special • End government subsidies for arms by June to process claims and remove failed asylum seekers. reception centres sold to foreign regimes and establish a • New removals agency to track down people whose claims Parliamentary Arms Export Committee to Drugs have been rejected monitor arms exports • Register for criminal drug users • Enlarge EU to include emerging • Investigating whether derivatives of cannabis should be Drugs democracies of central and Eastern prescribed for those with certain health problems • Give police new powers to deal with drug abuse Europe • Reform Eli's institutions to make EU MUST BE them more open, democratic and JOKING: Tories effective would stop Brussels having Immigration and any more power Asylum • Deal with asylum applications fairly and more quickly • Introduce fair benefits for asylum seekers to replace the voucher system • Review the dispersal system

Drugs • Establish a Royal MAKING A HASH OF IT: Labour are looking into Commission on Drugs to whether people with assess whether the law and certain medical problems punishment for drug use should be prescribed weed ought to be changed F***K FEES: Citi Dems promise to abolish tuition fees

7 8 ELECTION 2001 Friday Pick your

Congratulations, you've won a date to sunny Awl North Yorkshire with our Yes Do you enjoy listeningt William. He enjoys o you think we should -)-401(■■( the Lighthouse Family: bloodsports, church keep the pound? fetes and drinking and would like to win the votes of like-minded chums in the north, south, east or west of Britain. GSOH essential.

,-- Would you say it's time Yes ,,Can you for common sense(after respect a every sentence)? man who claims he used to drink \ fourteen \ pints in one e ening? v 7"--Is getting 50 per cent of young people into higher education by 2010 a good idea?

7/ Do you like Yes receiving red Do you think that roses? 'freedom, justice and honesty' are more important Do you want to than having 'ambitions for ' Yes stop any more power \ Britain'? transferred from Woul Westminster to all asylu Brussels? on a

Would you like to see 10,000 new teachers?

Does a leader Aren't you the lucky one? You've a big smile fill you wit nabbed yourself a hot hot date with confidence? the sprightly, yet experienced, Tony. He's a jet-setter who can show you the world and is especially fond of romantic breaks in Tuscany. He may ./ Do you think the seem awkward at first, but he's government should end guaranteed to smile at all your all subsidies for arms ) Yes jokes(providing his best mate Al laughs first). sold to foreign regimes? 2001 ELECTION 2001 9 Don't know which one of our three lovely lads pa ty to pick? Follow the arrows to find out which

Do you think that at 16, Do you want a leader with a full head of hair? when you can have legal sex, you should be allowed to vote as well?

Would you like tuition fees to be abolished?

Yes 7 Would you like to see Would you like to see prisoners serving their full modern matrons in our sentences? hospitals to ensure clean wards and good food? /

like to see Are you ekers detained opposed to the in Britain? National Missile Defence Shield which Yes involves Yorkshire's Menwith Hill being used as America's _.4061.17:001 first line of Would you like the defence? government to set a new target to reduce Co, emissions by 20 per cent by 2010?

It's your lucky day, because you picked our Charlie and he's from Scotland. He's a strapping young lad whose so dedicated to his politics that he was born with the right colour hair. Prepare to march over the romantic(and extremely cold) Do you want the Scottish glens with this minor TV celebrity safe minimum wage increased to in the knowledge that you won't be losing £4.10 in October? him to the hallowed halls of power just yet Friday June 1 2001 10 ELECTION 2001 Let's get ready

conferences where the truth is ducked as easily as a lame punch. Union. "University is a time when young people study and have fun. With 20,000 students living in Even the most experienced commentator is going to have a hard time Going out to vole isn't high on their list of priorities. The candidates choosing who out of Harold Best (Labour), David Hall-Matthews will probably do better concentrating their efforts on Meal residents the heart of the constituency, the (Liberal Democrat) and Adam Pritchard (Conservative) to bet on to than students." he sure of a return on his money. All three parties arc. unsurprisingly. True or not, this has 3111i stopped them trying. Students have been claiming that victory is there for the taking. forced to suffer the compulsory electioneering walkabouts. Labour. politicians in Leeds North-West Leeds North-West has been safely Tory ever since its creation in Tory and Lit-Darn can he seen strutting their stuff on campus. 1950 but was swept away in the Labour landslide of 1997 when parading party and policy like fighters at a pm-fight weigh in, each have been forced to take notice. Harold Best molt the title. Labour's majority here is small though and trying to intimidate the other while they remember to keep smiling. a 3.9 per cent swing back to the Tories could sec them knock Best off But for all that, there is a world of difference between boxing and Jenny Ricks and Dan Box his feet. politics_ In the two minutes and forty five seconds it took him to The Liberal Democrats themselves are hoping to make the most loose to Harrison, Mike Middleton made £25,000: after 5 weeks of profile the three main candidates out of this conflict and are throwing nearly all the weight of their campaigning and a sleepless night on June 7 all that two of our three election machine in the city behind the candidate in this constituency, contenders will have to show for it is that they lost and can finally go fighting over the territory maybe hoping that disaffection with the main two parties will help home. them pick up on the student vote that some sec as being crucial to this Right up until election night this is going to he weighing on the i's a three way match in Leeds North-West and each of the three how. minds of Best. Hall-Matthews and Pritchard. In the words of Floyd stepping up to the ring could come out on top. Just as easily any Patterson. the former heavyweight champion of the world, these one of them could end up stretched out on the canvas, seeing round 20,000 students live in Headingley and Hyde Park, three arc going to be always afraid, "not of getting hurt but...of stars and listening to the mocking roar of the crowd. areas right at the heart of Leeds North-West, enough to have losing. Losing in this ring is like losing no-where elec." I a massive effect on a result decided last lime by a majority But then, in a constituency where at the last election the Ronnie The seedy glamour of boxing has a lot in common with the real politik of the national election: there's the promise of power, the of just 3844. Only no-one knows how many of them are the Rhino Party picked up 232 votes, it does not pay to get your greed, the shadows, broken promises, angry punters and press registered to vote. According to Adam Wheewall, President of LMU hopes up - anything can happen.

Harold 'The Daddy' Best David 'Babyface' Hall- Matthews VITAL STATISTICS VITAL STATISTICS AGE: 62 APPEARANCE: Like a bear with a sore paw, AGE: 34 Best may seem cuddly from a distance. APPEARANCE: Take him home to meet your FORM: The sitting incumbent, Best is by far mum. Ah. the most experienced of the three. FORM: As a ballet enthusiast and qualified Involved in union politics since the age of football referee, Hall-Matthews has appeal 16, he led his first strike at 22 and has across the board. A half-marathon runner, been stalking the corridors of power al he has got the physical form to go the Westminster for the last four years. But distance. Although he teaches the subject then in any fight even the champion has to at Leeds Universtty, Hall-Matthews has no loose eventually and, almost as old as actual experience of wielding political both his opponents combined, Best will do power, a short-falling which may leave him well to go the distance against the with his guard down and open to the wily challenge of the younger contenders, attacks of the more experienced Best. ODDS: 4-1 F ODDS: 6-1 ON TUITION FEES: "I fundamentally, TUITION FEES: "Fees are another indiscreet absolutely disagree with them." tax. They are part of a package of disillusion ON STUDENT HOUSING: Best was quoted with this government." in as saying "The STUDENT HOUSING: "Students don't have proliferation of shared houses with different attitudes towards their houses to absentee landlords are like a mediaeval the rest of the population, but if you live in plague" and "in five years' time, the a slum then you naturally don't treat it that destruction of Headingley will be complete." well." CRIME: "I personally am for the ON CRIME:"It's not about police numbers decriminalisation of cannabis and I think but particular neighbourhoods. With al Jack Straw and Ann Widdicombe transient population it is rich pickings, intentionally try to trivialise the debate." criminals see it as a soft touch." avid Hall-Matthews is a hit of a paradox, special relationship with America that Tony Blair is hen we enter his office. Best shows us was a t..ahour mani test°pledge in 1997, no-one seems to know who he is, but most so keen to maintain means "there is no reason fo I a profile of hint from the Westminster of you will vote for him anyway. A Leeds America to support us on anything," George W. The flame magazine; this shows a ;though he is ideologically opposed to Birth gets labelled "one of the least responsible fall page sketch of the MP as one of tuition fees, Best has been attacked over Srudent survey found that 375: of students intend to vote Lill Derr, more than those who will world leaders out them- and Hall-Matthews would the women who sat knitting at the foot of the failing to speak out against them. He to impose EU sanctions against the US for Guillotine, enjoying the spectacle of mass failed to vote on a motion opposing vole for the other two parties put together. All this like pulling out of the Kyoto treaty on environmental beheading. Best suggests we Labour plans to ent student despite the face that only 4,5% of students know protection. read the accompanying text to funding in 1998 and also to sign who Hall-Matthews is. explain it. but we can not find a Commons motion this year compared to 12% who 7'hile many see a anything which adequately against fees. Best argues that recognised Adam Pritchard vote for his party as explains this appetite for these parliamentary motions are and 26% who know that Best execution. not "some kind of test of an is the Labour Party candidate a wasted vote. Hall- Matthews says that Best sees himself as a MPs political integrity, even for the area LIBERAL DEMOCRATS in Leeds this is not true. He sees genuine representative of the www.labour.o less some kind of political Hall-Matthews became a community and has lived here virility." You have to wonder Liberal Democrat at a tender the constituency as a two man all his life. he hates the idea of what is then. age. As a huh; Hoy he asked fight between himself and 'career politicians' and sees Best grew up in Leeds. has his parenLs what the names of the three parties Adam Pritchard: "I think people here arc for himself first and foremost as a constituency MP. been in politics here since 1981 and knows meant. They told him that Conservative memo Mot- disillusioned with Labour" and says that a vote While even his opponents have to admit that Best thousands of people in the constituency. He has changing'. that Labour meant 'working' and Best is inure likely to let the Tories back in. has a good record of representing his constituents, seen the sudden influx of students into the area Liberal Democrat meant 'generosity.' Wee David Behind their contender stands a tine tuned Lih that did net mop the Mail on Sunday describing and tried to deal with the conflict between those was sold. Since then Hall-Matthews has gnawn up Dent election inachine. After the last general him as one of the four worst Labour MPs in terms students and the local population. He stresses that and now, although he thinks the same, he uses election, Labour had eight city councillors in the of contributions to the Commons, Best argues that he does not blame the students for these problems bigger words to say it - for hint the party stands for constituency:sir= then they have lost ail but two. he gem better results from talking quietly to and instead attacks the universities: "like William "individualism and the suite which pro-actively The Lib Dents now have as many people on the ministers than from debate in the House, but after Blake's dark satanic mills, They are polluters supports its people." council as the other parties put together. and have four years of championing the issue in these quiet blighting the landscape and the polluters must But he is nut all the tender floating butterfly, big hopes for their man in t ink North-West. talks and a visit from the Housing Minister. Nick pay," and the landlords who "will pillage until there is a sting in his tail. Hall-Matthews absolutely He tells us this is Labour's weakest seat in the Raynalord, Best has had no success in introducing they have turned Headingley into a desert. and opposes American plans for a Missile Defence city and one the Tories are just are not trying hard a licensing scheme for student housing. which then they will move on." System with bases in Yorkshire. He argues that the enough to win.

10 Friday June 1 2001 ELECTION 2(X)1 11 to rumbldill

htchard SeCITLS pnalietably upbeat about Tory student vote away from Labour and the Liberal Adam 'Well 'ard' prospects for the election though he admits that Democrats. This includes giving universities huge sums Pritchard the electorate had good reason to hate the Tories every year in set them free from government 'red tape' in 1997. "People thought we were sleazy and so long as they promise not to raise tuition fees'. The they hated us on public services". he says. When asked money to fund this will he raised in part from selling off VITAL STATISTICS if that image has changed in 21101. he ducks the blow and student debts to the private sector, leading to a massive changes the subject. increase in the interests payments on these debts. AGE: 34 He sees his duties as an MP as "the This will he balanced by a APPEARANCE:Archetypal interests of the country first then triumphant £200 per year tax breaks grammar school boy made good, a constituency. then party." We are not for students and by incensing the one-nation middle-manager from sure how he would work out what the earnings threshold at which we have the tip of his immaculate shiny interests of the country actually are but in start paying off this debt to hair to the toes of his immaculate they are. it seems. all in favour of the £20,000. This means that those shiny shoes. US NMD plan. Equally Pritchard is graduates who take a few years FORM: A Tory from birth, sure that the constituency is before they earn £20.1100 will have Pritchard's idols include Peter unconcerned about the prospect of extra time to build up a really hefty debt before they can afford to pay it Walker, Energy Secretary under Yorkshire becoming a target with the Thatcher - inspiring stuff. US stations nearby at Menwith Hill 01T. ODDS: 11-2 and Fylingdales because "Yorkshire is When we mention this, Pritchard already a target." gives us a look as if to say *no-one earns less than /20.000.* Nurses and TUITION FEES: "1 am anti fees Pritchard rates himself as an myself. I will not defy the party environmentalist. He boldly says: "We teachers may disagree. whip, but I have raised the issue are now starting to wreck the planet." is mobile and pager within the party." All well and good. you may think, but remain eerily silent STUDENT HOUSING: "The issue of he gives us no clue as to how he would throughout the interview. student housing has been blown stop the destruction and is dead keen the phone ringing only up to boiling point by the current on nuclear weapons which "have kept the peace for an long." once. It's not Central Office As for putting the interests of the reminding him to remain on message CRIME: We need more visible but a higher authority: his wife placing an order for a police, more police on the beat party last. he states that he would defy the Conservative party whip as MP hir Leeds NW, but over which issue large bag of wine gums to he delivered on his return and less paperwork." and on what terms seems unclear. home that evening. So that's wife. country. constituency, The Tories have a 'student package' to lure the party then. 12 ELECTION 2001 Friday June 1 2001 Spinning around

Move out of their way, they are the men that hold the real power in Britain. Jonathan Marciano talks spin with past master, Bernard Ingham, long- serving press secretary at the court of Mrs Thatcher

Riding, dark and mysterious. the figure stands a few feet terrorism and perhaps the end from the Prime Minister studied and transfixed. moving of ideology. with the media fast only to make some hasty notes. illuminated every so often emerging as a key battleground. by the lightning of the camera flashes that breathe life into And her own famously loyal his political creation. and ruthless press secretary. is the world of shadows. the world of spin. Now it is Alastair Bernard Ingham admits Campbell. the Prime Minister's Press Secretary. who has made into through II turbulent years to an art form the liminal space between government, Prime Minister. playing a considerable inside civil service and media. Campbell has been at the heart of everything role all the way, in an New Labour has done. patrolling in the darkness of Gotham City. unprecedented drama of undeniably growing into one of the most powerful and feared men in politics. loyalty and intrigue. Britain. Even now he defends It is a measure of the office of Press Secretary to the Prime Thatcher's outbursts on the Minister that when Campbell recently announced he would he campaign trail. "It's about time changing his role should Labour achieve a second term, a frenzied somebody spoke out, what with media speculated whether it was true. whether it would be less high all this rubbish spouted by profile. or more influential. It typically overshadowed every other mealy-mouthed politicians-. story the government hoped would dominate the press columns. In style, clearly the rough Then. the same day as the Prime Minister was equivocating in the Ingham could not he more Commons about the American missile defence system, Campbell different to Campbell. became central once again as he carried out the political equivalent Campbell's Hea the! ffean of a hack-street abortion. His message delivered to the to President romance and charm, has made him a sex symbol with an internet site (showing the dashing and pensive figure, "Alastair Campbell is a behind some moody graphics). Ingham in contrast is gruff, political commissar. He dogged, decent. serious and short-tempered. He looks a worn-out, loyal and embattled would have done very well sea-dog against Campbell's bright-eyed feline instincts. As in the Kremlin" we talk it is disconcerting to hear the unexpected snort. of 'daninif and 'bloody' that left Bush was simple. Want a missile system? Nu problem. Do you want lobby journalists climbing the fries with that? walls after encounters. And so the fiction of the post's non political role, always fragile. On the issue of 'spin' it was has been less than subtly blown away under Campbell's tenure. Thatcher he suggests who gave Always in the refreshingly vivid language of the unaccountable. the role of press secretary such an aura. giving the press such a Campbell recently described Tory economic policy as "an insult to Ingham outside Number 10 Mickey Mouse". Earlier, he played a leading role in Peter low priority and effectively YORKSHIRE RASPUTIN': Bernard Mandelson's precipitate dismissal and was reputed to have taken on letting the office-holder take the inside clique at Thatcher's table. His own well chronicled outing charge. "I don't think she had a very clear idea of what the role bigger fish still, describing Chancellor Gordon Brown as of 'wets' through the press. (calling a "demi-detached "psychologically flawed" as rumours surfaced that the Chancellor entailed. She wasn't interested in journalists. She never read the member of government) and place in the murky Westland affair was circling for the top job. ft all underlines a political role that has papers. She felt as I do, that they are besotted with rubbish, They which helped end as a political force are potentially limitless scope to present. double-cross or undermine_ As have not achieved very much in their own lives so they criticise conveniently glazed over. He believes himself to have acted far more Michael Corteoni puts it in The Godfather. 'the one who brings you others." properly than the present incumbent, Campbell. "Alastair Camphell This familiar ire of Ingham's is even more strange given the message will he the betrayer'. that he is a political commissar. He would have done very well in the The figure who masterminded the workings of power, more started life as one of the "rottwcilers- that hounded him for scraps, a Kremlin". is just one of the broadsides reserved for the dangerous Hebden Times as a young man in Leeds, and effectively than even perhaps Campbell however was the Press journalist first at the young Machiavet, he sees causing mischief at the heart of politics. Secretary to the grand lady, Mrs Thatcher. At the height of her onto the Yorkshire Post and Guardian.(These days the press are more like 'spaniels': "The press let the government get away with blue powers. the lately-styled Mummy of British politics had to do haute et Ingham was spinning before the term was invented. His murder'). His stint as a Civil Servant. earned him the coveted job at with her own Scorpion kings, such as trade unions. party purges. Tmanipulation of the all-powerful Lobby of main political journalists, was legendary. even causing a limited boycott from some newspapers. As the old lobby cliche ran: 'What Spin Doctors speak out IBernard was thinking today. Thatcher would be thinking tomorrow'. Alastair never read the papers. The Masonic-traditions of the Lobby system manages to place most of the cards in the hand of the Press Secretary. And Ingham Campbell. on... Tory She felt as t do, that denies that recent reform has worked. "Campbell has supposedly put Economic Policy: they are besotted with his own comments on the record. But nothing has changed. There An insult to Mickey rubbish" may he an official lobby but that doesn't stop all the movement Mouse" ...on Alastair Campbell behind the scenes". Though the messenger once termed the 'Rough-spoken Yorkshire ...on Gordon Brown "Alastair Campbell is a "psychologically political commissar. He Rasputin' in the Commons is more than implicated, his message is flawed" would have done very that the hack-stage hands with an eye tot:envoi, have robbed ()citifies well in the Kremlin" of life before the election. "If you get in you have to behave like a Bernard Ingham poodle. My message to university students is to demand a right to free speech otherwise we will go downhill every day.- on...Thatcher ..on Free Speech If you get in [to Yet for all the hype of spin. and commentaries on the dark arcs "She wasn't interested politics) you have to practised by Campbell and the old master Ingham, the election in journalists, She behave like a poodle" campaign so tar has defied control. The 'people' which the parties are lighting over have hit hack. Punch-ups. heckling, even ghosts from the past such as Thatcher suggest perhaps that spin may be a spent SULTANS OF SPIN: (Left) Mrs Thatcher with Press Secretary, Bernard Ingham and Gorbachev in 1990. (Right) Campbell poses force. Either that or it will have to enter once again into a whole new era.

12

Friday June 1 2001 ELECTION 2001 13 To fee or not to fee?

Should they stay or should they go? Lucy Ballinger asks what affect fees are having on student welfare, and what do the parties have to offer? Lail)oisr" CONSERVATIVE • Ten-year aim" to get 50 per ghost of Christmas past has come back to Rachel Cashman, NUS's vice- r in higher •Sell off student loan debt to •11.1unt the Prime Minister. Having introduced president for welfare said that such jobs cent of under 30s the private sector tuition fees after the last election with a hold -exacerbate the stress of study." She education hand and a sweeping gesture, Mr Blair is now continued: "In the run-up to exams, •Expand opportunity for people •Ban institutions from facing heckling students on the campaign trail. And students who juggle revision with part- to go to university charging top-up fees they are not happy. Oh no. time work and other course demands are •Increase student numbers • Give universities one-off lump The two pieces of legislation passed by the Labour left with little time for relaxation, which whilst improving standards sums which would be invested government which have affected all students arc the makes them particularly vulnerable to •"Continue investing by the universities. The institutions introduction of tuition fees, and the abolition of stress.- in our universities" would be run off the profits student maintenance grants. Yes the Higher Education UBERAL DEMOCRAT needs more funding, yes education should be open to he NUS is concerned that financial all. but the fact is. students are emerging from t'stress and an increase in access to •Abolish tuition fees university with massive debts on their shoulders, Higher Education have put pressure on for all undergraduates because getting a degree is an expensive business. student support services who have not •Restore means tested On May 24 an angry student at the University of received any more funding to deal with this. maintenance grants Glamorgan confronted the Prime Minister, and Beyond this, mature students are suffering from a -Access to housing accused him of making Higher Education merely for lack of funding, with a 15 per cent drop in the wealthy. applications in 1999 compared with the previous benefit and income Andrew Chaplain, a 23-year-old year. support for students in second year at the University, The government has Green Party summer attacked Mr Blair for announced a run of new a •Increase access to spending money on the initiatives; more -girOf a AresWales un varsities M illennium Dome rather than bursaries, more on Higher Education. He thnding for poorer questioned: "You want a students, but the •"Education should be • The Scottish National Party and classless society. how can you reality still remains freely available to all Plaid Cymru want to abolish get that when only the rich massive debt. people: young and old, rich and tuition fees can go to university?" There is also a poor" •Both parties believe in free Mr Blair defended fees, presiding sense that education for all saying they were necessary to does not all quite •Abolish tuition fees • Plaid Cymru want to ensure access for all to higher 7.7 add up. Recently it •Reintroduce grants education. came to light that 1,200 •Review pay of all reintroduce means tested He was also attacked by a sixth-former the lecturers jobs are to he axed. The average university workers maintenance grants previous day who said fees were leading to student staff-student ratio at university is 1:20, so the prostitution. loss of 1.200 jobs represents 24,000 fewer A recent report from the House of Commons student places. With this being the case the showed that the average dropout rate in England from question remains how Labour plans to increase the universities is 17 per cent. This is the second highest number of under 30-year-aids entering Higher introduced while he remains in office. in the world. Education to 50 per cent by 2010. William Hague, leader of the Conservative party, Is This has come as concern over an increase in Students born in and studying in Scotland should looking to deflect their policy of retaining tuition fees mental health problems among students. Student count themselves lucky. Not only do they only pay a by announcing plans to double the threshold for the The story suicides have risen drastically from 2.4 per 100,000 £2,1300 contribution after graduation and once earning repayment of student loans to £20,000. But this comes students in 148314 to 9.7 in 199314. Financial over £10,000, but this is for a four year course - half with plans to sell student loan debt to the private problems have been linked to an increase in as much as is paid by students in England, Wales and sector, and to make the loans repayable in lump sums. abroad depression and anxiety among students, as well as the Northern Ireland. The only or the major stress caused by an increasing necessity to take on AUSTRALIA: Students in Scotland are three parties who actually part-time work to fund study. So the choice is yours. Tuition fees Ise fees introduced in also funded to the tune pledge to abolish up-front or £6.744, in England 1989. Some students with vague promises of increased tuition fees arc the Liberal pay over £8,000 for this figure is £5.360 and Democrats. Students would certain courses. in Wales. £5,138. investment, tuition fees with instead be expected to pay Who pays what? Spending per student in contributions of £2.000, as Scotland next year will privatisation, or post-graduation in Scotland. after graduation REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: he around two per cent Fees abolished in TUITION FEES: - and once the graduate's £1,050 (200012001) above in Ration, in contributions with increased tax income exceeds £10,000. I1 1996. EC residents This figure is likely to England (1.4 per rent They will fund this abolition are exempt from above, and in Wales 0.4 per cent below - marking a increase by about £25 a of fees with increases in tax. payment of fees. year. cut. So the choice is yours. Tuition fees with vague Some Universities Mr Blair's defence is that, by the end of the year, promises of increased investment, tuition fees with UNITED STATES: charge more - Oxford's only half of students will have to pay up front tuition privatisation. or post-graduation contributions with Fees in place, but current top-up rate is tees. But this is stilt 50 per cent more than in Scotland increased tax. research funding where they were abolished in autumn 2000. So far top- £1,075 a year. The only certainty in outcome, whoever is elected, available although up fees are off the agenda, with the Education is that students contribution towards Higher Education very competitive. MAXIMUM LOANS: minister. David Blunkett, promising they won't be is here to stay. £4,590 for those studying in London. £3,725 for those studying outside Fees across Britain London. ENGLAND: (2,950 for those living at SCOTLAND`------home. •1998: Tuition fees of £1,000 •.lan 2000: Agreement to introduced across the UK drop tuition fees for all Scottish and LIVING COSTS: •1999/2000: Fees increased by E25 per year EU students studying in Scotland Students are expected to take out a student •2000: Russell Group of universities announces •Sept 2000: Fees replaced by graduate loan, topped up by parental contributions or they are looking into introducing contributions where graduates pay £2,000 into part-time and holiday work. top-up fees the scheme once they are earning f10,000 a National Union of Students estimates that year. Grants of up to f2,000 are available living costs are actually much higher than WALES: — -- if the student's parents earn less the maximum loans. •2001: Welsh assembly prepares to than £23,000 £6,636 each year to be a student in London. vote for the abolition of tuition fees, £5,268 per year outside London. following the example set by Scotland This is before tuition fees are taken into account. Demo-crazy

fr ; itoBAL NETWORK AGAINST WEAPONS 8 NUCLEAR POWER IN SPACE

Yorkshire becoming central to Is democracy failing us? America's defence strategy and could prompt a new arms race - the Labour Party has said nothing on Nick Francis explains how this, although privately it is clear they'll go ahead with it, in spite of our system excludes political what the people think. That is incidental to them. In all these participation and suggests measures the public is not consulted. Those who are affected by such decisions have no vote. no choice. how it needs to be changed no question. The teachers in Leeds, outraged by the effect of the private company on their schools, had no oting is the epitome of a healthy liberal democracy. You cast choice. your vote on the basis of promises and hope that the government What is clear is that once a fulfds those promises. If during that term these promises are government is in power they operate broken there is nothing you can do. That's all part of the healthy autonomously - whether it is democracy. If a decision or new policy is passed that you vehemently spending close to T. !billion on a disagree with, there's is nothing you can do. Remember this is a Dome, or privatising public services VOICES IGNORED: Voters protest against the government's support of the USA's plans for democracy. or introducing new legislation, or militarising space(left) and its support of the UN sanctions on Iraq(above) One doesn't need to analyse Athenian ideals of democracy to realise breaking promises - the people are the problems in our system. Namely that once a government is in, they sidelined from the political process. would vote. but even this does not extend to the period when the nding are accountable to no one. Decisions can he made, promises can be Only the euro will warrant citizen involvement. The lack of party are in power. At that point people are cut off front politics. broken and the people have no input. What we have in this country is accountability in our democracy leads to this system of power without When or if you vote it is important to remember that once a party "Western democracy" and that should not be confused with purer forms responsibility. is in - there is little you can do in Westminster of democracy that can exist, in Switzerland or Sweden for example. It is this kind of democracy that we are rem keen to export. When style politics to change what is happening Whilst they arc Western countries. they break rank with the UK and US countries see the light and adopt our way of doing things. we are always hence the term "elected dictatorship". Check in terms of the opportunities people have to involve themselves with the ready to applaud them. And those that don't see our light, will he out the premises that are made, and watch political process. punished, like Cuba for example, whose sanctions cripple the country. them be broken. Over the last four years the ruling Labour Party has introduced Whilst electoral reform is essential, if only legislation not only without consulting the public but which was also not to insult the public into believing their anti-democratic in its nature and likely kl conflict with the Human Rights. 'It is foolish to kid ourselves vote has a real impact, the problems with a Act 1998, enshrined in to British law in October 2(100. Let me give you lack of citizen participation will remain. By some examples. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. requires citizen participation I don't mean what intermit service providers to have installed black boxes so intemet traffic into thinking we have a fully happened recently in the Lords, where 15 can be traced. This means all communications can he listened to. By members of the establishment walked into contrast. Article 8 of the Human Rights Act specifics ones right to the Lords under the name of the peoples' privacy: the RIP Act overlooks this right. functioning democracy' peers. Insulting people in that way is The Terrorism Act 2000 has been seen as the most anti-democratic discourteous. What needs to happen measure taken in recent history. If you are a campaigner and you block One need not look too far back into the history books to see what has is a change in the power the road to protest you could he charged as a terrorist under this act. been done to install western style democracy in countries that had other structures to allow for Peacelal protest, the hallmark of democracy has been dealt a severe ways of doing things. Efforts to democratise other countries have been more citizens to get blow. Other decisions that have passed the public by include Britain's conducted in the most anti-democratic ways. Throughout central and involved once the south America and even today in Columbia - US continues to impose its adherence to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (a World Trade Party is in power. EN PROMISE: interpretation of denaa:nk:y. Organisation rule that Britain has signed up to) that stipulates that if a One re ferns ne could stop private company can prove it can run a public service cheaper than the could invoke our breaking n this country people feel our voting system undermines the public sector it has a right to do so. If it is not allowed, the company can sample of t he democratic process. Organisations like Charter 101 and 'make your ord on tuition take action against the government. Education Leeds is the private population regularly fees company running schools in Leeds. due to this provision. Tony Blair's votes count' are pushing for electoral reform. something the labour invited to advise on government has not attended to during the last four years. despite its much heralded Private Finance Initiative (PF1). thoroughly praised at the I policy and practice. who act as promises at the last election. The point here is that the system of voting launch of his manifesto. signalled the enthusiasm he has for private ombudsman to those in power. is not proportional. In consistencies with a clearly high majority, and safe communes running public services. This would dilute the monopolistic seat, your vote makes little difference. This is what has lead to tactical The people of this country are never consulted about what is done in power structures currently in their names in foreign policy. If you think the UK's weekly bombing of voting. place, that divorce people from But this is a diversion from the main point. Even if there was electoral Iraq should stop or should not have even begun, there is little you can do. politics. Until such innovations reform. would the country be any more democratic in the sense that more Apart from the eon), notice that foreign policy is nowhere during this are made it is foolish to kid people would participate? Surely politics is about participation, and election. A visitor to Britain at this time would be forgiven for thinking ourselves into thinking we fewer people are participating. This election is expected to draw the Britain does not have a foreign policy. have a fully functioning lowest turnout since 191 R. Maybe if voting was reformed more people On National Missile Defence. which would involve two bases in democracy.

t J

• •• Friday June 1 2001 ELECTION 2001 15

"I jump on injustice. Not bandwagons." GaistES tiuta t

kyr,' USERALDEINOCUTS

Spitting W LAP►BOUR NEW DANCE dumbies YOU SMELL 'The parties lavish thousands of pounds on playground insults Our politicians often look more like screaming kids than potential leaders once the election campaign gets under way. Anna Doble steps in with a few stern words

ast November the U.S. presidential election its dumb yet mind-numhingly elfixtive depiction of was cruelly touted as "a choice between a Neil Kinnock's Welsh pate inside a lightholn with moron and a prick". In the run up to next the headline. "Will the last person to leave Britain IJwLvk's general election in Britain, there's no please turn out the lights." Along with the general sign that we're anymore grown up aver here. It's all attack lit the jitters that caused the nation to stutter at too easy to poke fun in the cutthroat playground of the ballot hose that fateful April evening, the victory of personality politics when the only alternative is to... that constant and vitriolic barrage upon Kinnock the urn... talk about the... um... policies. In fact. man as opposed to Labour the party stands testament Westminster might well be viewed as a large playpen: to the powers of dirty politics. a padded cell packed with clamouring chubby faces. Yet now, in an eery cartwheel of fortune. it is New each one allegedly desperate to break out into the real Labour - caught as they are in a post-Mandelson state world to wreak havoc, only to discover that once free of spun-dried ecstasy - that doles out bad blood with of their formative incarceration the big bad world is the most panache. Their latest billboard onslaught full of big bad boys and girls who want to write big carries the devastatingly simple slogan. 'Don't Go had headlines about how big and had they are. Back.' And oh how much weight lies on that final, The premium placed on personalities has quickly unnervingly definite full stop. Likewise, their devolved into a relentless slanging match. where wickedly effective Hague-Thatcher hybrid (his face. style not only overwrites her hair) and it's accompanying And finally... substance but negative attacks caption ( 'Be afraid. Be very (couched, of course, in killer Just as having an in afraid.' I looks set to frighten Bookies are actually pothering to make Labour 1-1(10 to suundbites dreamt up by loyal voters considerably more than it win the most seats. the Tories I 15-1 and Lib Dem 200-1 and party minions in the bowels of depth knowledge of will reaffirm their faith in New it's a million to one the field. So it's Red Rum who are Millbank) have surplanted Labour. predictably on course, to he first past the post come rational political debate. Just as irregular verbs gets you Thursday. Not very interesting I hear you cry, but you're having an in depth knowledge of t's funny how the wrong! There's still plenty to bet on. irregular verbs gets you nowhere nowhere in the incumbent government of Number of Women N1Ps: They've had a rough time in in the playground, talking playground, talking the day always resorts to the Blair years and the trend might well extend to the publicly about your vision for a Idredging up the (Political) consituencics. If there's under 109 returned next Thursday better Britain can he a terrible publicly about your opposition's past misdemeanours then you'll be glad to get on the 6-4 being banded about at faux-pas. Better to scaremonger instead of hoisting its owe Tips the moment. about horrid things that might vision for Britain can be i 'ones high on the battlements. Number of Seats: The Lib Dems should hold their happen if your opponent is lust Indeed, why send out your own record number of seats but I can't sec them surpassing the past the post come polling day or a terrible faux-pas platoon of politicos into the fray 50 mark. A spread of 45-50 is available at 2-1. to draw attention to his false grin, when you can sling dead horses Labour could well stretch their amount to over 420 his burgeoning paunch or even over the fortifications and head at 11-8 and the Tories look likely to do even the milk-curdling capabilities of his voice. for the Whips' Office? Or, indeed, why not stay put in worse. Take 5-4 for the blues to get under 160. The an of negative campaigning has come a long your playpen and just throw tantrums? Considering Size of Majority: Tony Blair will he way since the duffle coated days of pre-spin the first unwritten rule of arguing is 'don't rake up old looking to secure a 22,000-25.000 majority in Whitehall. The hog standard Conservative formula coals' (Arthur Scargill references excepted), and the Sedgelield. Not sure if he'll put a spread bet used to be simple enough. Each time the pollsters second rule is 'don't get personal'. the gladiators of on himself at evens. Hague's popularity will predicted mutiny in the Home Counties, the Britain's political arena throw their weight with all be tested at Richmond where his majority economkal recycling of the words 'winter', 'of' and the accuracy of a toddler in a paddy. But after could drop under 7,0IN1 at 12-5, Meanwhile, 'discontent' would usually reel the scaredy-cats back Thursday's dummy-spitting night of excitement, it Kennedy. in Ross, Skye and Inverness West in. And for a time, Thatcher's well-placed chums in seems likely that OW' infantile friends in the corridors will secure a 5.0004- return at 2-1. the British press did the job for her - Kinnotik bashing of power will go quietly back to their oak-panelled Turnout: Get out there you apathetic becoming an Olympic sport for a short time between playpen - our votes safely ensnared - tin another four lot! Voter turnout could well hit a new all the mid-eighties and that heart-breaking election of years chewing rusks and intermittently screeching time low. You'll find most offices going 7- 1992. It Was Wot Won It', apparently, with "It's not fair!" 4 that under 66% show at the polls. TICKETS GOING FAST!! TICKETS GOING FAST!! TICKETS GOING FAST!! WXHETRE WILLR NEXT FRIDAY? 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