Dec
10
Question Time Event
Filed Under Events
On Tuesday 2nd December, Nottingham University Politics Society hosted its own ‘Question Time’ style evening. The presidents of every political society on campus comprised the panel: The Politics Society, Conservative Future, Labour Students and Young Greens. The addition of a chairman ensured a flowing debate.
Much amusement was caused by the absence of the Liberal Democrats (it turns out they’ve ceased to run an SU society), and the effect of this was that the debate naturally focussed on issues of disagreement between Labour and the Conservatives. Unsurprisingly, the economy was the issue of the day, despite efforts to escape the subject’s domination. Other topics were Heathrow’s third runway, internal flights and membership of the European Union and the Euro among others.
Interventions from the floor maintained audience participation, though not all of them quite qualified as ‘questions’! The eagerness and attention throughout the room was testament to the engaging debate on the table.
Regular interventions from the Young Greens’ president offered a different perspective on what might have become two-party issues. Some found it unnerving how often he found a link to climate change in whatever topic was brought up! The Politics Society’s president seemed to offer a deliberate objectivity, always adding a humorous element to his serious points. Tension was maintained between Labour and the Tories, with exasperation evident on both presidents’ faces after particular controversies - this all added to a great atmosphere.
Time was limited, but it was obvious the audience would quite happily have stayed for much longer. Congratulations to the Politics Society for their success and inventiveness, and I hope there will be many more events like this in years to come.
By Edward Cain, NUCA Social Action Officer
