What Your WECA Candidates Had to Say About Students
Did you know there’s a local election coming up on Thursday 1 May to choose the next Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA)?
Who is the WECA Mayor?
This role might not be on your radar, but it should be! The WECA Mayor holds real power in Bristol over things that really matter to students, like buses and transport, housing, job opportunities, and how our region tackles climate change.
Whether you're frustrated with unreliable buses, struggling to afford rent, or concerned about Bristol’s future, this election matters.
So, what did the six candidates have to say about students?
On Wednesday 9 April, Bristol SU invited the WECA mayoral candidates to campus and hear how they would address the biggest issues facing young people in Bristol today.
Led by Lucy Pears, your Student Living Officer, this event was a chance to ask questions, hear their policy ideas and – crucially – hold them to account if they win.
To kick things off, Lucy gave a presentation to the candidates, outlining the main challenges Bristol students are currently facing. This was based on findings from Bristol SU’s latest research, including insights from the BBSU Survey and recent student reports. We made sure your voice was front and centre in the conversation.
What the Candidates Said
Here’s some quotes from each candidate in attendance had to say about the issues that affect you as a student:
Liberal Democrats – Oli Henman
Oli Henman is representing the Liberal Democrats in the upcoming WECA elections.
“We want Bristol to be open to the world and I was really struck by the income and the additional regional breadth and depth that it gives to the economy of students being in our area.”
“Students are a crucial part of our future”
“I would make it my priority to work with other authorities in the area to make transport more affordable and better.
We need to look at housing. We are building social housing again for the first time in our region. We need to make sure that housing is in the places that people need it, so for example students can reach where they need to study, work.
I will make sure that there are pathways for students to stay in our area and find opportunities to work, build skills and work here in the future. I see students as a big part of this future and making sure we have a brighter future
For me it’s all about renewables, new technologies and creative industries.
The role of nature in our region is also so important. For the first time in our region, we have a nature recovery strategy. So, my plans for housing and transport will be balanced with nature recover.
Green – Mary Page
“[I left the Lib Dems because] I couldn’t get policy through on the environment and climate change”
Focusing campaign around “Nature, Nurture and Needs”
“Want to grow a thriving economy with sustainable skills … and raise the basic levels of attainment in adult maths, English, green and tech skills”
“I want to focus on reliable, regular, integrated transport [and interested in franchising]”
“20 years of austerity [from Labour and Conservative governments brought] cuts and that lack of willingness to invest is hurting us”
“But the people who are better off are people like Aaron Banks, who is a multi-millionaire who is worth £125 million more than the annual budget of the West of England”
Independent – Ian Scott
“I believe that people should vote for me, because I am the most experienced candidate in the race by far, I’ve been a councillor for 25 years and a local government officer for 12 years”
“There’s not a British university that can survive without international students – effectively they’re subsidizing British students”
“[International students are] good for the economy and some of them stay, some of them go, but they’ve always got that link with Britain afterwards and we can trade with those people in the future”
“We know that politicians break their promises, so … I’m not going to make them”
“But you can trust me because I’ve got the most experience and the reason I can call out the government is because I understand these issues”
“The government doesn’t understand economics – the West of England doesn’t have an airport”
Conservative – Steve Smith
“I want to massively expand our local rail [things like] twin tracking, opening 5 more stations in the next couple of years in places like Ashton Gate”
“Trams and even cable cars – why not? … The process keeps stopping because local authorities can’t agree”
“I want to build intensively on brownfield sites because our greenbelt around the city at the moment is under threat … there are opportunities at places like Temple Quarter and Filton”
“Our economy has been stagnant per head … for about 20 years now and that’s why things feel so tough … I want to make sure we are working with businesses, large and small, as well as the voluntary sector, putting the combined authority’s money into the best places to create growth and opportunities, new [and] better jobs”
Labour – Helen Goodwin
Invited to the WECA roundtable, but she had to send her apologies.
Reform – Aaron Banks
Invited to the WECA roundtable, but we did not hear back from them.
To hear more about what all candidates had to say, you can watch their BBC hustings here.
Why Voting Matters!
This election is your chance to help shape the future of Bristol and the wider region. The WECA Mayor can make a real difference to your student experience, so don’t miss your chance to have a say and exercise your chance to vote!
Voting is one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard and exercise your rights. When you vote, you help decide who represents you the best and what issues get attention.
You can find your polling station here, ready for getting the vote out on Thursday 1 May.
