This election is already coming to be recognised for the strength of the turnout amongst students and young people. And whilst the final outcome of the election remains somewhat unclear at this stage – as negotiations between the major parties remain ongoing – it is already clear that the level of student engagement in the election has had a very significant impact.
Key to the NUS Vote for Students campaign was the drive to get out the student vote on polling day, already at this stage it is clear that turnout amongst students was very high – indeed, on election night itself stories were already out of students being turned away at polling stations, in Sheffield, Liverpool and London with staff unable to cope with such high numbers of student voters turning out to vote. NUS has called for a full investigation into the matter, and you can see our press statement here. If you or any other students were unable to vote please do get in contact with us by emailing us at fundingourfuture@nus.org.uk.
Also key to the Vote for Students campaign was the Funding our Future pledge which parliamentary candidates were asked to sign, in so doing stating their opposition to any rise in the tuition fee cap. Nationally, more than 10 million votes were cast on polling day for candidates pledged to Vote for Students.
This has resulted in over 150 MPs in the new parliament who have pledged their opposition to higher tuition fees, many of whom will owe their jobs in large part to the student vote.
The 150 Vote for Students candidates voted into parliament include the aide to the Universities Minister; Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham), former Europe Minister Gisela Stuart (Birmingham Edgbaston) and Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East) who all managed to hold onto their seats through the support of students. Both former Transport Minister Karen Buck and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas were also able to tap into local student support for their campaigns by signing up to the pledge being returned to parliament representing Westminster North and Oldham East and Saddleworth
Even in the safer Labour seats, the impact of Vote for Students could be seen. In Walthamstow, pledge-signee Stella Creasy was elected to parliament with a healthy majority, Diane Abbott in Hackney North and Stoke Newington and Jeremy Corbyn in Islington North both doubled their majorities and former Treasury Minister Andrew Smith elected in Oxford East managed to increase his share of the vote by over 6%. More successes were seen with Energy Minister and pledge signee Joan Ruddock, Luciana Berger and Paul Blomfield who won Lewisham and Deptford, Liverpool Wavertree and Sheffield Central seats respectively.
Conversely, many candidates who refused to sign up NUS' pledge have found themselves punished by the student vote. The most notable victim of the Vote for Students campaign was former Education Secretary and top-up fee architect Charles Clarke. Clarke lost out to Liberal Democrat Simon Wright, who unlike Clarke has signed-up to the NUS pledge. In the lead up to polling day, Clarke, a former NUS President admitted, “I can see the issue over student fees will be a battleground”.
Meanwhile, in the City of Chester seat Conservative candidate and pledge signatory Stephen Moseley was elected, defeating sitting Labour MP Christine Russell who had failed to sign the Funding Our Future pledge.
Whatever happens in terms of the formation of a new Government, it is clear that the student vote is of great importance in getting into, and remaining in, parliament. Given that a second election could arrive well before the maximum 5 year parliamentary term, this is a lesson that many politicians would do well to learn quickly.
Click here to read more about the canidates who signed the pledge.