Freshers' Week is a Long Time in Politics

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.

“Attending a Conservative Future event, I immediately felt underdressed.”
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.

EXCLUSIVE: University paying hundreds of staff 'poverty wages'

Image credit: The Living Wage Foundation

Over 300 staff employed by the University do not earn the living wage as of June 2013, a Freedom of Information request (FOI) submitted by Exeposé has revealed.

Unlike the minimum wage, which stands at £6.19 an hour, the living wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living, including necessities like accommodation, food and clothing.

The principle has cross party agreement in Parliament and boasts David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Boris Johnson as vocal supporters. Various other universities, including Loughborough, Queen Mary and UCL, have voluntarily agreed to pay all of their staff the living wage, alongside numerous higher education colleges and student unions.

But 302 Exeter staff earn under the £7.45 an hour threshold, with one apprentice being paid as little as £2.77.

Despite six of these staff members earning less than the minimum wage, the University is breaking no laws because apprentices are not subject to the legislation brought in under the previous government.

A further five apprentices earn £6.19 exactly – which remains a full £1.26 per hour less than the living wage.

The bulk of the 302 low paid workers are cleaners or catering/retail/domestic assistants, though the University did not break the statistics down further. 58 of those staff members are paid £7.11 an hour, with a further 233 earning £0.18 more.

A University spokesman said only: “we are actively considering the living wage, but will need to discuss further with the unions.”

The University also highlighted how pay rates are negotiated at a national level, through Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff.

The revelations come as the University continues to invest heavily in new facilities, with hundreds of millions of pounds being poured into developments over the past few years, raising questions about where funding should go.

In a piece published today, Exeposé’s Online Comment Editor, James Bennett, notes the cost of the Forum and argues that the disparity between this and low staff pay is indefensible. He concludes that: “as a student population we should encourage the Guild to put pressure on the University to take up the voluntary living wage scheme.”

Freedom Society’s President, Liam Taylor, disagrees, suggesting there is nothing wrong with the University’s pay rates.

“A living wage sounds like a nice idea on paper when times are tough. Unfortunately the economic reality is that it doesn’t work and would do more harm than good by costing jobs,” he said.

The statistics will nonetheless place the spotlight on the University’s ethical obligations, and a number of other political societies have hinted at launching future campaigns in relation to staff pay.

Debating Society have said they would consider putting forward a relevant motion at a later event, whilst Labour Students, Liberal Democrat Society and Socialist Students have expressed concerns. All three groups are considering lobbying the University in response to the news.

SocStu co-President Carlus Hudson described the statistics as “outrageous,” suggesting that his society would put pressure on the University “to pay all of its staff the living wage.”

“Paying poverty wages is a totally unacceptable way to treat staff who are essential for keeping one of the highest ranking universities in the country running,” he added.

A detailed list of staff working for less than £7.45 per hour is pictured below.

Harrison Jones, Online News Editor

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The full run down of staff members paid less than the living wage (click to enlarge).