LIBERAL DEMOCRATS WIN STUDENT VOTE - RAMSBOTTOM

2.06.41pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 22nd Apr 2005

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Manchester Central Constituency

Liberal Democrats won their first test for the student vote in Manchester after the majority of students attending a meeting at Manchester University last night said they would be voting Lib Dem in the forthcoming election on the 5 May.

The vote took place at the end of packed meeting attended by over 200 students who came to hear representatives from the main political parties standing in Manchester. On a show of hands the majority of students said they would be voting Lib Dem this time round.

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom, Parliamentary candidate for Manchester Central who represented the Lib Dems at the meeting said, "The Liberal Democrats are the only major party committed to reducing student debt by scrapping tuition fees. We want to remove this major disincentive and burden that discourages people from applying to study at university, especially those from less well off backgrounds."

He added," On the major issues of the day whether it be Iraq, tuition fees or ID cards, the Tories have flip flopped in order to gain votes. They are not a serious political party in Manchester any more. Many Labour voters have lost trust with New Labour. It is not surprising that more and more young people are switching to the Liberal Democrats".