“Don’t lose the right to vote” Labour warns as education leads meet students from West Yorkshire universities

Today [Tuesday] (@Labour) Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green MP, and Shadow Universities Minister Emma Hardy MP will join West Yorkshire mayoral candidate Tracy Brabin MP to hear from students across the region on their experiences of university during the pandemic and priorities for improving student experiences.

With thousands of students living away from their usual term time address due to lockdown, Labour is urging students not to lose the right to vote by registering to vote by post.

Labour has called for Government action to ensure May’s elections can go ahead safely, including for Government to take responsibility for supporting postal vote sign up with ring-fenced funding for councils.

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said:

“It’s really important that we hear from students about how we can rebuild from this pandemic, making up for lost teaching, improving student experiences and securing their future opportunities across the country.

“It’s essential that students’ voices are represented in the upcoming local elections. With Covid putting the elections at risk, Labour has consistently called for safer voting methods to be introduced, including voting over multiple days and all-postal voting.”

Tracy Brabin MP, Labour candidate for West Yorkshire Mayor, said: 

“Our students have been let down by government over the last year, with many locked out of the student jobs they need to support themselves while paying rent on accommodation they cannot use.

“We need to ensure every member of our community is heard in May’s elections. With disruption to their studies meaning many students are living away from their normal address, students should register for a postal vote to ensure they do not lose out on the right to vote.”