A heated debate swept across campus last night, as Britain Stronger in Europe and Vote Leave pitched their viewpoints to students.
A heated debate swept across campus last night, as Britain Stronger in Europe and Vote Leave pitched their viewpoints to students.
Debating society’s Chloe Costa moderated the discussion, in a packed union main hall.
Over 125 students came to listen, amid national fierce campaigning by both sides.
College Principal Professor Layzell kicked off the event with a rousing call to arms, warning ‘of all the generations that are eligible to vote in the referendum, you have most at stake’ and encouraging students to ‘play their role’ in shaping the future.
Layzell recounted how disappointed he was to be just short of the voting age in 1975, when the question whether to join the EU was put to voters – imploring students not to feel the same disappointment and to register to vote.
Introducing each side, both teams spoke about the economy, immigration and how the EU would impact on universities, in particular the Erasmus scheme.
NUS Vice President Union Development, Richard Brooks, and Labour Society President, Robert King, spoke for Britain staying in the EU.
Alex Balkan and management student Christian Egglishaw represented Vote Leave.
The audience of students prompted heated debate, on trade deals, the amount of money sent to Brussels and democracy within the EU.
As the discussion came to a close, Brooks for Stronger In, said: “[It] is clear is that … what has happened time and time again is that our generation and students more broadly have been left out of that debate. We are the people who are least likely to vote, who have the least opportunities to have our voices heard and being a part of shaping that debate.”
Brooks joked about the importance of young people voting: “I was arguing with my granddad about this last week. He is, sorry granddad, not going to be around for the next 50 years to see out the consequences of this. We probably all will be.”
Alex Balkan, summarising the Vote Leave campaign said: “If we want to reduce austerity, if we want to put money in education, the best thing to do is to vote to leave the EU, because we spend so much damn money on it and it’s better we spend it over here.
“[The EU is] unprogressive, regressive, undermines worker’s rights, doesn’t stand up for people. Actually our [the UK's] progress has been better than most European countries.”
A poll of the room after the debate, saw over 70% of students voting to remain in the EU.
The Students’ Union organised and hosted the debate to empower students to change the world around them, a key aim of our strategic plan.
Edited highlights of the debate will be released soon.
No matter which side you choose, make sure you're registered to vote by 7 June.