Each answered ten questions on Twitter put to them by local Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union students.
When questioned about tuition fees Julian Huppert MP said he has always opposed them, whilst Conservative Chamali Fernando said that whilst it is important to be financially pragmatic, she thinks fees should be reduced if possible. Green candidate Rupert Read said tuition fees should be abolished altogether, but that there could be additional income tax on graduates who use university education to become anti-social bankers.
Candidates were asked whether they would reinstate the post-study work visa for international students. Chamali Fernando said that post-study work opportunities should be on a case by case basis, and Julian Huppert MP said that the post-study work visa should definitely be reintroduced and that we should welcome international students with open arms. Rupert Read argued that, on balance, the post-study work visa should not be brought back, as this decision would depend on details of whether international students can show that this would benefit their home country.
When asked whether students in Cambridge should get a higher grant to reflect the cost of living, Julian Huppert MP said that he would like to see all students be able to cost their living costs, whilst Chamali Fernando said that the government had to balance the books as best they can. Rupert Read argued that although he supported a grant which would reflect living costs, he warned that this money should not be used by landlords to charge higher rents and that rent controls are also needed.
Through @NUSUK ‘MPs Questions’, is opening up politics to the NUS seven million student membership - #GenerationVote.
NUS President Toni Pearce said: “Students are proud to be part of their communities, and will hold the key to the next general election in many constituencies across the UK, so it is our responsibility to empower our students to question those who may be representing their interests’ nationally.
“Considering where the student vote is most powerful, we will be choosing one constituency per week and inviting the MP and PPCs from each, to engage with their constituents on Twitter, all answering the same questions – on a range of topics from local issues to student ones.”
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For more information: pressoffice@nus.org.uk
07866695010
Cambridge MP and PPCs take to Twitter to thrash out general election issues
4 December 2014
Cambridge’s Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) Chamali Fernando, and Green PPC Rupert Read took the first step in the fight for general election 2015 by addressing local issues on Twitter.