The Students’ Union Officers have released a ‘Sheffield Student Manifesto’ ahead of the General Election, which is due to take place three weeks from today, Thursday 21 November.
The manifesto outlines policies that the Officers support and are split into seven categories which are: housing; mental health; international students’ rights; higher education; cost of living; climate change; and Brexit.
On Brexit the Officers support avoiding a no deal or ‘hard Brexit’ and protecting freedom of movement as well as giving refugee and asylum seekers home student status. They also support “free, publicly-funded education”, a “rapid transition to a sustainable economy & society”, the “re-introduction of rent controls” and reinstating “a grant system where maintenance funding adequately covers living costs”.
The manifesto comes as part of the #OurStudentVote campaign encouraging those who can to register to vote and participate in the election.
Announcing the manifesto on Facebook, the Students’ Union said: “A General Election is coming on December 12th, and the voices of Sheffield students must be heard!
“Sheffield Central has the most student voters of any constituency in the UK, and all students have the right to demand national policy which supports, sustains and strengthens their lives.
“Head to sheffieldsu.com/ourstudentvote for first time voter FAQs, information on informing your vote, and more.”
SU President Jake Verity said: “There’s around 30,000 students at the University of Sheffield and I think it’s incredibly important that their voices are heard in this Election
“Your Students’ Union has put together a manifesto which tackles really important issues for students such as climate change, Brexit, housing, international students’ rights, Higher Education, cost of living and mental health.
“We think it’s so important that we stand up for students on these issues, and that they are put at the very front of the agenda during this upcoming General Election
“I encourage all students to register to vote by the 26th of November and then go out and use their vote on the 12th of December.”
