Politics debate special

Cllr David Blackburn talks to LS

By Charles Cooper

Leeds Student‘s Charles Cooper talks to Green party Cllr David Blackburn

While the student vote is obviously important for you in this constituency, how will you represent students, who make up over 25% of your electorate, if and when you sit in the House of Commons?

Firstly, 25% of my electorate are not students.  In Leeds West where I am standing there is a fairly significant student population in Kirkstall, but considerably less in Armley, Bramley & Stanningley and Farnley & Wortley.  I think in a Leeds West context its how will I represent those people who are in full time education and how will I represent the 20-year old on the Bawn Estate in Farnley who can’t find a job because their qualifications are negligible.  It is I believe about trying to make sure everyone fulfils their full potential in life, whether you are 20-years old or 80-years old, whether you are a University student or a young unemployed person.

What wold you like to see happen to university top-up fees?

It is my view that there should be no tuition fees at all.  More than ever in the 21st Century we need to encourage people of all ages to develop themselves to their full potential.  This cannot be done by having a system that discourages participation and that prices some individuals out.  Education at all levels should be free.

I and my party also would seek to reintroduce student grants for the moment.  In the long term, under a Green government we would seek to cover students living costs through the introduction of the Citizen Income.

One of the main concerns of many students in the area is crime and the safety or our street. What will you do to combat this?

Crime, or the fear of crime is a concern to lots of citizens and not just students, but to some extent it depends on where you live.  The basic fact is that those areas where there is high deprivation, poor housing and other social problems also tend to be where crime is at its highest and unfortunately these areas are where there is a lot of student accommodation.

While the Criminal Justice System and Policing Policy are important that alone cannot solve the problem, we need to address the underlying social factors.  For instance, everyone need to have good quality housing that is secure and not dilapidated.

Has there ever been a more challenging time to enter the Houses of Parliament?

I would say yes and no.  

Yes in terms of the economy because unfortunately economic downturns have happened before on numerous occasions, but we don’t learn and greed takes over.  The fact is, based upon what has happened in the past, in 10 or 20 years time it will all happen again.

But what is different, new and so challenging is our knowledge of what we are doing to the planet we live on.  The great challenge is, are we willing  and do we have the capacity to change our lives and the way we do things so future generations can have acceptable lives, or are we that selfish that we throw our children’s future away.  That is the challenge.  I believe we can rise to that challenge, but the clock is ticking. the time is running out and we need people electing who will deal with these problems head on.

How is the government going to regain the trust of a completely disaffected electorate?

Trust in politicians, parliament and governments comes and goes, although currently trust has probably only been as low as this back in the 18th Century when Robert Walpole was around and not in modern times.  For government and parliament to deal with this disaffection it needs to make itself fit for purpose.

Clearly the way we pay MPs needs sorting out, but is it right that a political party can get just over 1/3 of the vote and form a majority government?  I say lets introduce proportional representation.  

Is it right that unelected members of the House of Lords should make decisions about our lives?  I say lets have an elected second chamber.

In my view we need to decentralise power down to the lowest level, so ordinary people can have a real say in the things that effect their lives.

Finally, we need constitutional arrangements introduced restricting powers available to the government with regard to wars, to ensure the country can never again be taken to war on lies.

I think what will not stop is wrong decision being made sometimes or the odd corrupt politician, but at least we are more likely to get the will of the people enacted.