Smears and Scandal as Election Night Turns Sour
FIGHTING, JEERING AND underhand tactics cast a cloud of shame over election night 2003. The most important night of the year in Union politics saw leading candidates immersed in controversy. These revelations came amid bitter acrimony following two weeks of intense campaigning. Mounting frustrations boiled over as controversial allegations were made concerning campaign tactics.
Runner-up Richard Price spoke out angrily about being subjected to what he described as an underhand smear campaign that involved the removal of posters and graffiti. Exhausted and defeated, Price claimed that he had been put at a constant disadvantage by the interference of a "militant minority". Ex-campus Tory Chair Price squarely pointed the finger at left-wing campus activists.
In a later news conference, Price made clear whom he considered to be the Union hijackers – Campaigns Officers Siobhan O’Gorman, Sherine Traboulsi and Sophie Whitehead, and the Racial Equality Officers Kalli Tariq Hameed and Ellena Valizadeh.
Current SU supremo Tom Connor revealed complaints had been received from both sides. He remarked that the removal of candidates’ publicity was a perennial problem; with each year underhand attempts being made to get rivals disqualified. Connor bemoaned the fact that no matter what, candidates resort to cloak and dagger tactics in a bid to undermine each other. Connor remarked that "whilst you’d hope party political factions shouldn’t make a difference to Union politics, all too often they do."
In a further twist, Price criticised Connor’s colleague, Returning Officer James Byron for being ‘utterly unprepared’ to deal with the situations and allegations being made. Furthermore, he expressed concerns that YUSU is open to hijacking from a ‘small minority’.
Speaking to nouse, Hameed hit back at accusations suggesting that she may be linked in some way to any attempt to undermine Price’s campaign. She felt that tensions, which had begun at hustings, had been increasing all week leading to a "very extreme" and "unpleasant" atmosphere on election night.
Tuesday night’s hustings left Hameed distraught, following an altercation with campus Tory, David Sammels, now elected Societies Officer. He had accused her of heckling, a claim which she firmly denies. Several witnesses heard him threaten to have her disqualified if she continued to heckle. However, in an attempt to diffuse the situation Sammels later apologised for his comments.
In a separate incident on election night, an angry exchange took place between supporters of rival candidates Price and Palmer. This episode threatened to turn into a mass brawl, requiring the stern intervention of five Doorsafe officials. It was one of several incidents of confrontation and alleged intimidation that occurred on the night.
However, amidst the controversy Chris Jones secured a clean and comfortable third round victory. In a night that saw the left-wing vote split between Maya Freedman and Rory Palmer, Tom Connor pointed out that Richard Price "did well to achieve the best result by a right wing candidate in years."
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