Streeting Snatches Victory by Narrowest of Margins
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x Mair le A Friday The Independent March 05, 2004 Cambridge Student Issue 598 Newspaper since www.varsity.co.uk 1947 Close Call Streeting snatches victory by narrowest of margins Laura-Jane Foley “everybody was well-aware that the presiden- the second preference votes from Davies who divided up Cambridge between them”. cy could be decided by one vote”. that secured Streeting his presidency; a debt The night before the election, Streeting and The initial count was in Streeting’s favour, he is more than happy to acknowledge. his supporters went to club nights in the city A mere twenty-two votes decided the with 1001 first preference votes to Shibli’s “She’s one of my best friends. Our support- canvassing for votes including some CUSU presidency on Wednesday night. 997. By the third round Shibli was leading by ers knew how close we were and her votes “dressed outrageously” with ‘Wes for Pres’ After the closest electoral battle of the last 8 votes. Even as they went into the final did make a difference”. stickers across their chests and bottoms. All thirty years, Wes Streeting of Selwyn round, the result remained too close to call. However, Streeting campaigned hard in this, claims Streeting, “was crucial when it pipped nearest rival Omar Shibli from Streeting only emerged as winner after the his own right, using a strategy he described came down to 22 votes”. Girton to the presidency and declared his votes of third placed Katy Davies were re-dis- as “guerrilla-warfare”. Techniques included He praised the other candidates for a “fair intention to usher in “big reforms” to tributed between the two front runners under plastering toilets in colleges with posters. contest”, although he told Varsity that the Cambridge’s student union. the single transferable vote system. He says that “Omar went for a more uncon- election system needs to change. “Too much As the ballot papers trickled in and the This was fitting, given the close friend- ventional route” mobilising what came to be is down to name recognition. It should be closeness of the contest became apparent, ship of Streeting and Davies - a notable called “Omar’s army”, a collection of sup- about more than simply who you know”, he those charged with the uneviable task of quirk of the campaign. According to Davies porters who went through the town with t- commented. When asked about the election counting the ballot papers triple-checked both “desperately wanted the job” for them- shirts emblazoned with his name. But rules themselves he conceded that some results, and even began the final count again selves but agreed that each other would be Streeting also had very active campaigners. were sensible “but some stifle debate”. for fear of mistakes. CUSU Academic Affairs the “next best President”. They fought a He revealed that he “had thirty people Officer Jessica Childs told Varsity that clean battle on different platforms but it was working for him, led by five team leaders continued on page 4 The region’s best guide to what’s on – see next Thursday’s Cambridge Evening News NEWS 02 Mar 05, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk A cup of coffee; a slap in the face Big Chief Stanley banned from hustings after provocative speeches lead to uproar Gabriella Jozwiak that she’s a bit butch.” Tension in the explained his familiarity with women’s ted up a girl who it emerged was “not Naomi Christie room heightened during questions. issues because “of course [his] mother Stephanie, but Steve”. When asked how he would approach the was a woman…until 1987”. One of his The decision to ban Stanley from The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, more menial side of the job involved in proposed policies as welfare officer spoke at the Law Faculty on A candidate standing in the CUSU welfare, such as packing up parcels, par- includes installing a treadmill in his office Wednesday about the Government’s elections was banned from speaking at ticularly of condoms, Stanley explained “for those who need it”. Additionally, “I have experience in dealing recently announced constitutional hustings this week. The CUSU elec- he did not expect this to be a problem, Tim criticised the whole of CUSU, with minorities… reform package. Attracting significant tions committee made the decision “I’m a Catholic, I don’t believe in contra- which he says “probably isn’t doing its job my cousin’s a lesbian.” media attention, Lord Woolf spoke after a series of complaints from stu- ception.” His jokes were met with laugh- well enough” and promised simply to add against plans for a supreme court to dents who were offended by Tim ter from the crowd, but the chair contin- to the inefficiency. He stated “if someone replace the House of Lords as the top Stanley’s campaign. Running for the ually asked him to retract his statements. came to me suicidal, I could only give speaking at further hustings was taken legal body. He accused the government position of Welfare and Graduates offi- Addressing Newnham College on the them the option to kill themselves, or after CUSU received complaints from of ousting the courts from the review of cer, Stanley stated that his ‘derisive’ next Monday evening, Stanley caused not”. Later that evening at King’s students. Ben Brinded, CUSU president asylum and immigration decisions. comments about women, depressed further offence. Standing with a cigarette College hustings, Stanley was again explained, “The elections committee Lord Woolf directed much of his students, suicide, LBG students and all in hand, he thanked the women’s college asked to withdraw comments made upon asked Tim to withdraw his unacceptable attack towards Lord Chancellor Lord individuals seeking welfare support had for inviting him to speak at ‘New Hall’ - his experiences at a CUSU LesBiGay comments at these hustings, but his per- Falconer. Remarking that the not intended to cause offence. an error met with a stony silence. He night at Life. He purported to have chat- sistence in making them left us with no Chancellor was a “cheerful chappy,” he It was clear from the start of his cam- option but to protect students attending questioned a decision that would prevent paign that Stanley had something out- hustings from further offence.” Stanley access to the courts over asylum talks. standing to offer the position of welfare insists he had not intended to cause He said that plans to limit the right of officer. His manifesto, scrawled on file- offence, and apologised. One Emmanuel appeal for asylum seekers were “funda- paper, reads simply,“This is hand written undergraduate commented, “He provid- mentally in conflict with the rule of law.” because I was too drunk to write a man- ed some light hearted relief from the Lord Falconer’s department strongly ifesto. There is no better testament to my CUSU crowd who were taking them- defended the plans. A spokesman character. Let me care for you.” Similarly, selves far too seriously.” However, the explained: “Central to the bill is the prin- his benchmark slogan promised little action taken against him reflects those ciple that politicians have no place in the more effort: “Welfare the old fashioned who felt he had gone too far. Jennifer courtroom and judges have no place in way; helping you to help yourself.” Cooper, vice-president of Newnham Parliament.” He insisted that the Controversy was already stirring before JCR argued,“By attempting to make dis- changes to asylum procedures were nec- hustings began, with unusual slogans crimination against minority groups essary and would form a fair system that advertising his approach to welfare-seek- funny he perpetuates discrimination was fully in line with human rights laws. ing students as, “A cup of coffee and a instead of condemning it.” Lord Woolf, top judge in England slap in the face.” The case questions how much power and Wales, remained adamant during Emmanuel College hustings on CUSU should have over campaign the talk that the plans were unwise. He Sunday evening was the start of a run of methods. Another candidate and close said that the Supreme Court would not heated events. Stanley arrived on stage friend of Stanley’s, John West, said have the same over-riding powers as wearing thick, black-rimmed spectacles “Hustings is increasingly a ‘liberal’ other, similar institutions. It would not held together with tape. He explained, “I chive Nuremburg rally.” “Anything even have the powers to rule legislation have experience in dealing with minori- potentially offensive is shouted down by invalid, as in the US. Lord Woolf stated ties…my cousin’s a lesbian.” Electoral the chair”. Stanley agrees: “I believe in that the move would cause “the gravest officer, Helene Williamson, LesBiGay arsity Ar freedom of speech as long as it doesn’t constitutional clash this country has seen Chair, immediately demanded a retrac- V Stanley: his speeches have divided students across Cambridge incite hatred towards others, I don’t for more than 300 years.” tion, to which Stanley replied, “It’s just believe my speech did that.” VARSITY TRUST AWARDS • The Varsity Trust offers funding to students for journalism courses in 2004-2005. • A scholarship and/or bursary or bursaries may be awarded to students graduating at either Cambridge University or Anglia University in 2004 who are about to embark on an approved course in journalism in the coming academic year. • The level of the award will be determined by both need and merit. The maximum value of an award will not exceed the DfEs maximum for the fees for a post gradaute course (£2870) but applications for smaller sums will be considered and are encouraged.