Kent Union Election coverage 2013

I was thrilled to attend the hustings at both the Medway and Canterbury campuses for this year's Kent Union elections on behalf of The Medwire, Medway's student news group. The election saw more than 30 students stand for five sabbatical roles. My coverage for The Medwire involved profiling all the candidates, giving details about their manifesto pledges and telling students a little bit more about their candidates.

For the full coverage, visit The Medwire's Election page here.

Info on how to vote in the elections.

Info on President candidates 2013.

Info on VP Activities candidates 2013.

Info on VP Welfare candidates 2013.

Info on VP Education candidates 2013.

Info on VP Sports candidates 2013.

The new sabbatical officers for Kent Union 2013 are Chelsea Moore (President), Amy Gilchrist (Activities), Megan Wells (Welfare), Alex Murray (Education) and Chris Bull (Sports). I was thrilled to attend and cover the event on behalf of The Medwire.

Just under 100 students voted from the Medway campus.

I'm looking forward to reporting (or maybe even standing, who knows) next year!

Medway universities make National Kissing League

(written by Kieran Watkins, taken from The Medwire)

The first University Kissing League results have been released, with all three universities from the Medway campus making the league.

The University of Kent appeared above the University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christchurch University, placing 31st on the league.

The league gives an average for the number of people students are likely to have kissed in the last term.

According to the survey, conducted by studentbeans.com, each student from the University of Kent locked lips with an average of 3.03 people since September 2012.

The University of Greenwich placed 66 with an average of 2.1, with Canterbury Christ Church significantly lower with an average of just 1.37, placing 84th on the list.

Topping the league, which surveyed 4,039 students from 89 universities, was Northumbria University, where each student has kissed an average of 6.13 people. To read the results, follow visit Student Beans

Martha and the war against school dinners

School dinners hey. Who can remember those roast dinner days where you had a slither of meat that looked like a piece of processed mush, smelled like dog food and tasted like plastic? Or those delicious yet disgustingly made turkey twizzlers?

To be honest, school dinners were never that bad. And before Jamie Oliver came in and offered healthy alternatives for twice the price, they were something to look forward to. I remember the long line of hungry kids in primary school queueing up for the day’s special, or the choir of voices as the cook came out with seconds.

School dinners are just as integral to our education system as those cold days playing football in the rain or forgetting your lines in the nativity play. Everyone child across the country at some point will experience a school dinner.

But just what constitutes a school dinner nowadays? Last week, I was fascinated by the plight of one school girl from Scotland, 9 year old Martha Payne, who has set up a blog showing startling pictures of her school dinners from her primary school, or rather lack of dinner.

The pictures she has posted show ominous amounts of food that, if I was eating, would probably last a few mouth fulls. One days meal constituted of a burger, with melted cheese, in a bun with two potato croquettes and three slices of cucumber, with a ‘rocket’ lolly for dessert. Not only does this strike me as such a small amount for a growing child, but it’s hardly healthy either.

Her blog, NeverSeconds, has raked up an impressive six million hits and growing, and has support from newspapers and even Jamie Oliver himself (the man that I thought most school children despised!) Despite causing controversy among her teachers and the local council, her campaign is very impressive and definitely strikes a chord with the nation, with many other disgruntled schoolchildren across the country (and even the worldwide) uploading their pictures of puny portions.

So despite an original ban implemented by her teachers and the council, Martha’s story has garnered huge support and the ban has now been lifted. However, it alarms me that despite the criticism of school meals, the government have started to tamper with school meals and food provision. Already a consultation is running into stopping the funding for free milk for young children and nursery schools. There have also been widespread calls for breakfasts to be introduced to children that get free school meals, which I expect the government will turn down also.

It’s a shame, because I remember having fond memories of free breakfasts in primary school during my Sats tests. Not only was it reassuring and calming to have breakfast before sitting exams, but it also ensured I was given a nice, healthy breakfast. Kids nowadays, particularly those at secondary school, miss out on breakfast - so free breakfasts would enable kids to eat healthily. And surely having a healthy breakfast means kids will respond better in lessons too?

Jamie Oliver might have changed the face of school dinners, but he hasn’t really saved them. If school dinners are going to survive, the government needs to stop talking to the experts and start listening to the kids and parents. After all, they’re the ones that know best.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia/ Neverseconds blog

Martha is helping raise money for Mary's Meals, a charity that works with local volunteers to supply school meals to local children and communities. You can find out more here.

Friend for Friday: Chuka Umunna MP

It has been a challenging week for businesses across the country. From Peacocks calling in the administrators, to Chinese investment in British industry; British business is changing as you and I know it. One man who has been leading the calls for change is Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna - who recently called for shareholders to have a bigger say in appointing company boards.

I was lucky enough to talk to Chuka, one of the aspiring stars of the Labour party last year. Here is what he had to say on politics, students and his political career.

Parliamentary Private Secretary to Labour Leader Ed Miliband and recent MP for Streatham, Chuka is fairly new to politics, working his way up through the city and media world. We chatted to him about his life, British society and the Labour leader.

Chuka, before you became elected as an MP for Streatham, you worked your way up the political ladder through writing. Can you elaborate more on your past success?
Well first, I have always grown up in and around Streatham, an area of London. In addition, I have always had an interest in politics. My first job was as a lawyer in the city, however I found that the press either portrayed the inequality of ethnicity in London itself negatively, of not portrayed at all. I decided to write an article about the subject, and sent it to my brother who was amazed at my ‘natural writing talent’. I then sent it off to the Financial Times, who published it, without any editing or changes made. Within a week, letters and emails to the Times were sent in their hundreds, praising my work. It went from there really.

You went on to write regularly for the Financial Times, as well as the Guardian. In fact, you even started and edited your own website; the political TMP magazine (similar format to our Online Magazine, The Alternative)
Yes, I did. It was great, because I could write what I wanted and focus on the topics and issues I wished to focus on. If I have any advice for you in the magazine field, it would be to try and always be imaginative and eager to try new things.

Political commentators and newspapers like the New Statesman and The Independent have in the past dubbed you the ‘British Obama’. How do you feel about being called this?
Well it is certainly flattering, but it is not what I am about. I am all about the people, my constituency: not about the names and labelling. Although I admit, it is a comparison I would not be so arrogant to make myself! (Laughs)

Talking about your constituency, how did you feel to be elected in May as Streatham’s MP - a place you have lived in all of your life?
Words cannot describe how proud I was and still am. Knowing the community so well, and being part of its past and heritage I think helps when being an MP. However, the community itself, the people - they are the best, even if I am biased myself! But honestly, local societies and communities are what make Britain, Britain! In addition, it is what I love in politics.

You were also elected as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Labour Leader Ed Miliband. For some readers who may get confused what the job involves, can you tell us?
Yes, I must admit that the first bit sounds rather confusing but it is simply a secretary to the leader. I organise his diary, events, etc as well as making sure any letters and emails sent from the public are taken care of with responses. I also prepare him for questioning, and for asking questions on Prime Minister's Questions. I guess you would call me the foundation for him; without my role, he would be all over the place!

You also voted for Ed Miliband in the party election - would you say you have a special relationship?
(Laughs) Certainly not a relationship, more of a friendship! We both knew each other before he was elected leader. We are both centred at the same place really, and this is one of the reasons for me nominating him. And I made the right decision. He’s a great guy; enthusiastic and ready to act.

Finally, can you sum up your last 5 and ½ months in cabinet?
‘I love it’!

Interviewed by Kieran Watkins 

Picture Courtesy of http://www.streathamlabour.org.uk/