New Lib Dem society members campaign with local MP Ed Davey

Members of the recently-founded KU Liberal Democrats society are already campaigning alongside Kingston’s local MP, Ed Davey.

Davey’s campaign manager, Jonah Oliver, is helping students set up the society which is campaigning off campus, but does not have a committee yet.

“We are now getting people to sign up and pay their membership fees,” Oliver said. “People who have already signed up have gotten into the action and are now out there campaigning with Ed Davey.”

The Liberal Democrats party had a stall at Fresher’s Fayre in September, and said they had over 50 people signing up, which was a lot more than they expected.

Oliver said: “A lot of people are not committed to the Lib Dems directly, but they are just interested to know what ideas we have and what we are doing, both locally and nationally.”

Mareike Simon, an International Political Communications, Advocacy and Campaigning student, was one of the first people to get involved with the party after she ran into the campaigners at Fresher’s Fayre.

Simon, who is an international postgraduate student, said: “At the fayre I learned about all the parties and societies at KU, and the Lib Dems stall sounded very interesting. I agree with their points and goals.

“I spoke to a few students, and that is how I got involved in setting up this society.”

The society wants students to get involved on and off campus, and they want a student view on local issues. Oliver showed particular interest over Kingston’s recent troubled nightlife.

“There have been a lot of issues recently concerning nightlife in Kingston town centre,” Oliver said. “We are trying to find a balance there.

“We do not want to destroy the nightlife, but we do want it to be safe and quiet for residents as well.”

The society is working on getting organised, and Oliver hopes to be fully set up well before next Freshers Fayre to start recruiting even more members.