Bablake General Election Now Fully Launched

Four of our U6th pupils have completed a series of presentations to their Bablake constituents in this week's assemblies and it is now up to the respective support teams to canvass support before next week's Mock Election.

Returning Officer Mrs Helen Sawyer (Mathematics) explained that every pupil in each tutor group will have the opportunity next week to vote for one of the following Bablake candidates: Beckie Carter (Conservative), Pamilla Kang (Green), Amy Kuner (Liberal Democrat) or Keisha Simms (Labour).

Since we are following the national procedure, the candidate who gains the most votes in a tutor group will be declared to have won that constituency. The overall result will be announced in House Assembly next Thursday on the morning of the national General Election.

Beckie Carter (Conservative) promised the national deficit in the economy would be written off by the end of the next 5 year term, taxes would not be raised for 'working people' and the higher rate of taxation would be raised to 50k. She questioned how Labour's tuition fee reduction would not lead to extortionate repayments, gave hope for the NHS and promised more houses would be built. A vote for her party would be simply a vote for stability not the chaos seen before David Cameron's coalition.

Pamilla Kang (Green) promised attention to food banks, flooding risks and the effects of climate change, while assuring that voters who pledged allegiance to her party would benefit from a new form of government and not be stuck with the limitations of the outdated format offered by the major traditional parties.

Amy Kuner (Liberal Democrat) argued her party's MPs would continue to stabilise radical change, adding a heart to Tory decisions and a brain to Labour policy. She countered criticism that the Lib Dems went back on manifesto promises, claiming there had had to be compromise in the coalition but 80% of the original promises had been kept. She promised 8 billion for the NHS, predicted a fairer and happier society and would implement policies that were both green and practical. The best of the EU and foreign contracts would also strengthen the UK.

Finally Keisha Simms (Labour) assured voters that their concerns were hers too. She wanted young people to be earning a living wage. The minimum wage would be at least £8 an hour, independence would come via fixed employment and promises like this as well as care of the NHS would all be funded by a mansion tax on properties worth over 2 million pounds. It would be easier to step onto the property ladder, apprenticeships would be increased and university fees reduced. The mistakes of former PMs Tony Blair and Gordon Brown would not be repeated by Ed Miliband, while she was concerned David Cameron's promises would be false again.

Having heard the policies of the parties, the Bablake voters are now encouraged to questions the supporters of the candidates and then use their democratic right to vote next week!

Meanwhile last night, Deputy Head Mr Chris Seeley helped Bablake's Politics Society arrange a most enthralling public debate with four representatives from local parties. Those attending as panel members were Mr Ade Adeyemo (Liberal Democrat candidate for Meriden), Mr Parvez Akhtar (Conservative candidate for Coventry North West), Mr Geoffrey Robinson (Labour parliamentary candidate for Coventry North West) and Mr Richard Wright (UKIP).

The event was chaired with fine spirit by Mr Richard Atkins QC (former Chair of the Coventry School Foundation governing body) and the questions and comments from the floor, presented by a fervent selection of parents and pupils, were both pertinent and passionate.