First year student and new to politics Matthew Wilcock gives a wonderful insight explaining how he went from knowing nothing about politics at the start of Freshers’ week to finding a political party that suits him.
Photo Credit: George Peck via Compfight cc
Bewildering, over-complicated and irrelevant would have been three words I associated with politics a few weeks ago. I knew little to none about politics but I wanted to get involved. The problem was that political allegiances, which I’m so often told come instinctively, haven’t formed in me at all. So I threw myself out there: at the mercy of the student societies.
The first step was to attend the cross-party debate. With my appetite whet, I decided to give every party a fair chance. I decided to go to an event hosted by the four largest political societies on campus (Socialist Students, Labour Students, Conservative Future and Freedom Society). Finally, I would then choose a party.
I began with SocStu. As with all things ‘uni’, when I heard terms such as “exploiting class”, “revolution” and “utopia” being thrown about, I realised I’d started once more in the deep end. A political ignoramus, I appreciated the introductory talk on “What is Socialism?” but SocStu’s brand of ‘socialism’ was a few shades too red for my liking.
Probing SocStu members at the Ram, I found SocStu’s committee were more than happy to answer by naive questions. (They may have had a few pints more than me.) Dress code errs on the side of casual, far left views not compulsory but encouraged with friendliness and alcohol is in abundance.
Moving on to Labour. “We are MUCH cheaper than CF” – Labour Student’s battle cry, as voiced by Daniel Richards, their president. I sought to find out what Labour stands for. Dan helped me out: “Living standards, education and health care are my big three”. (Perfect: these align with my interests rather well.)
I had my doubts with Labour’s tax proposals and, in some cases seemingly unwavering, stance against big business. Labour offers a relaxed and friendly group of students and therefore it is, all the more so, refreshing that their attitude to politics is very active and organised. Thus, I sought to test the mettle of a few lefties by challenging them with my qualms: I was impressed but ‘wholly convinced’? Not sure. Let’s hold out and see what the others say.
Dan talked about canvassing and leafleting: here we go, tell me about ‘politics proper’! Dan launched off: “Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw … many contacts and resources … be more involved in national politics”. Harry Chamberlain, chairman of Conservative Future, sounded similar: “largest youth wing of any political party … get involved… opportunities… over 18,000 members”. Both party leaders have evidently been well trained!
It was time to attend a Freedom Society event. Cautiously making my way across the Ram after the EU debate to Rory Broomfield, Director of ‘Better Off Out’, I felt brave. A week ago, I was unable to say much about the EU, but I had spent the night before in a ‘Google frenzy’: ‘What is the EU?’ ‘Better in or out?’ ‘UKIP economic policies?’ ‘Nigel Farage’ led me to ‘Farage Boasts of beating Ball Cancer’ … I’d read enough. Pro-EU, then as now, I came to blows with Rory and the surrounding Freedom members. Neither could I stomach Freedom’s EU stance nor their thinly veiled nationalism.
Attending a Conservative Future event, I immediately felt underdressed. There was a strict adherence to the clichéd Tory dress code of shirts and blazers. Harry gave me his own three areas of politics where he thought the Tories trounced Labour: “Education, Welfare and Jobs”. ‘For hard working people’ ran the tagline at the Conservative conference and the CF members believe this- a handful “seeking independence from the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad”- I’m not quite there yet.
I initially thought CF at Exeter could likely boast the broadest consensus of a party on campus after hearing ‘Cameroon’ used as both vitriolic criticism and truly complimentary. I felt there was room for me to put across a case against Tory policy on welfare, housing and the EU. I convinced one person: myself. The more I spoke to Tory members about policy, the more I saw myself arguing against them, swaying to the left.
Could this possibly be that political instinct I’d been so long deprived of? I came to a conclusion. I joined Labour (and hope to promote myself further to the position of party stalwart.) My three words about politics: “Exciting, integral and irresistible”.
Did anybody else investigate all of the politcal societies? Can you really be informed enough to commit yourself to one party in such a short space of time? Leave a comment below or write to the Comment team at the Exeposé Comment Facebook Group or on Twitter @CommentExepose.
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