THE Liberal Democrats may have lost the West Devon and Torridge seat in last week?s general election ? but they emerged victorious in a student election held at Tavistock College. Helen Harris, head of law at the college, said she was delighted at the enthusiasm shown by the students during the campaign. The five candidates, all from the sixth form, lobbied their fellow students and took part in special election assemblies during their campaigns. The final result of the election was: Will Branfield, Liberal Democrat, 39%, Eddie Lowe, Green Party, 28%; Kelly Cordon, Conservative, 14%; Chloe Brockington, Labour, 8% and Tim Child, UKIP, 6%. Mrs Harris said Will Branfield polled the highest number of votes in every year group except year 7, which was taken by Eddie Lowe for the Green Party. Almost 1,000 students voted in the election. Mrs Harris said: ?We are very pleased with these results ? and all the candidates were admirable, particularly as four are about to sit their A-levels. ?It?s been very refreshing ? and as an exercise in citizenship, it cannot be bettered.? At Kelly College, which ran a similar student election, the results were quite different ? although the students were every bit as enthusiastic about the exercise. The results were Tom Wyatt, Conservative Party, 48%; Christoph Lakner, Liberal Democrat, 18.5%; Rob Morrish, Monster Raving Loony Party, 11.5%; Bradley Stewart, UKIP, 11%; Cameron Brown, Green Party, 4.5%; Emma Passmore, Labour, 4%. There were five spoilt papers. Tracy Ridge, head of humanities, said: ?It went really, really well, it was fantastic. We had a returning officer but apart from that, I was the only teacher who needed to be involved. ?We had pupils acting as polling clerks, they made their own ballot boxes, we had a hustings and an assembly in which they outlined their policies ? there was a lot of enthusiasm and interest, I think it made a real political impression.?
