KEETCH WELCOMES STUDENT SUPPORT

3.32.15pm GMT Fri 28th Jan 2005

Hereford Lib Dem MP Paul Keetch has welcomed a new poll showing the Liberal Democrats as now the most popular political party amongst young voters. The Student Experience study, carried out by MORI on behalf of the Unite Group, has published its findings showing students would give the Liberal Democrats 34% of the votes, Labour were on 28%, and the Conservatives 19%.

"This is good for the Liberal Democrats at the start of what is expected to be an election year", said Mr Keetch.

"It certainly mirrors what we are finding locally, often as a result of youth surveys that I have carried out in the constituency. There is dissatisfaction with the Government amongst young voters on issues like the Iraq war, student fees and environmental policies.

"The Tories have never been popular with the student vote, but their share of the vote is well below what I would expect".

Some 61% of students believe the government is out of touch with them, and the study shows students have increasingly turned away from Labour and the Conservatives, with the Liberal Democrats gaining an extra 11% of the vote over the last five years.

The study also found that having too little money and being in debt are the students' biggest worries. It found that the average student debt climbed £525 this year to stand at £5,285. Students expect that they will owe £9,744 at graduation.