General Election Coverage brought to you by LSU Media News
Beatrice Quarshie
During the campaigning process for the upcoming General Election, it can be forgotten that the party leaders are actual people, with some of them even being slightly more interesting than a slice of toast.
Conservatives
David Cameron happens to be a descendant of King William IV. Less surprisingly Cameron graduated from Oxford University with a first in BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Unfortunately the current leader of the United Kingdom is an avid fan of the football club Aston Villa.
Labour
As a London born man it is no surprise that prior to his responsibilities as a political party leader Miliband used to fervently watch Eastenders. He can also complete a rubix cube in 90 seconds. After two spells of living in Boston, Ed Miliband is also a fan of the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
Liberal Democrats
Nick Clegg is an award-winning journalist for the Financial Times. The musical rendition of Nick Clegg’s apology over the rise of university tuition fees went viral and crashed the server’s website five times in one day. He also supports Arsenal F.C.
Green
Based on the record of gay rights issues in Qatar, Natalie Bennett has called for the England team to boycott the 2022 World Cup. Her car crash interview on LBC radio made her a household name after she struggled to explain how she would pay for key policies. Bennett claims to be a committed feminist.
UKIP
Nigel Farage has named Vladimir Putin as the world leader he most admires, he did specify it was a political admiration not a personal or familial one. He is a former member of the Conservative Party. In his autobiography Farage depicts an intermittent disdain for John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’.
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Nicola Sturgeon is the first female leader for Scotland and the first woman to lead a national government since Margaret Thatcher. Sturgeon notes Thatcher as formative influence that drove her early interest in politics. She is a keen viewer of the Danish political series Borgen.
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
Peter Robinson along with his wife Iris became the first husband and wife ever to represent Northern Ireland in Parliament. Robinson is a founding member of the DUP and the longest serving MP for any Belfast constituency since the Act of Union in 1800.
Sinn Féin
Gerry Adams took part in the Catholic civil rights protests in Belfast. Adams was imprisoned as a suspected IRA leader. When Adams was elected as the head of Sinn Féin in the British Parliament he failed to take his seat due to the tradition of pledging allegiance to the monarchy. An assassination attempt has been made on Adams’ life.
Plaid Cymru
Leanne Wood is the first Plaid leader to be a non-native Welsh Speaker; she is currently learning Welsh.
Respect
George Galloway was one of very few MPs who voted against the lowering of the homosexual age of consent. Galloway was dismissed from the Labour Party in 2003 for allegedly violating the party charter. In 2013 Galloway stormed out of a debate with a third year student from Oxford because the student was Israeli.
Alliance
David Ford stood down as an elder at his local Presbyterian church ahead of a controversial vote on same-sex marriage. Ford stood down due to the opposition from members of the congregation to his position. Ford faced some backlash towards Ford due to his support of gay marriage and his position in the church.
Be sure to check LSU Media News for updates on the General Election as well as comment pieces and general information to assist in making the right choice for you.
