By Zoë Crowther, Students' Union Correspondent
Speakers at the cross-party event on Tuesday October 16 received both raucous applause and strongly worded objections while drunkenly debating the legitimacy of a People’s Vote on Brexit.
Some attendees were highly critical of an event which seemingly trivialised such an important and complex topic.
A Labour source told Epigram ‘The night is a farce. Drunken 18-19 year olds shouting about things they know nothing about. This is a serious issue: people stand here and think they have an opinion when they don’t know what’s going on.’
As a member of the audience, Edward Anders gave his opinion on the night: ‘There is no censorship here on free speech to argue your point of view. I think it’s great they’ve been given the opportunity to do this: it’s all light-hearted, in a drunken environment.’
Robert Porter arguing against a Peoples' Vote on Brexit
Epigram / Zoë Crowther
The Bristol University Conservative Association, Bristol Uni Lib Dems and Bristol Green Soc debated the motion ‘This house believes we are only now beginning to see the true effects of Brexit and a People’s Vote must therefore be called.’ Each society hosted separate pre-drinks events beforehand, with alcohol also sold at the venue.
Discussions quickly became heated, particularly surrounding the issue of the Irish border. In response to an audience member’s point that the panel had failed to mention Northern Ireland, Oliver Briscoe, member of BUCA, responded: ‘NI doesn’t matter in the context of this debate.
‘They don’t matter to the Remain campaign because they don’t need convincing. They are a tiny population and a tiny country. NI have a tiny voice in terms of the Conservative party as a whole.’
This statement was met with immediate uproar, with people in the audience urging the Chair to move onto a new question. One audience member voiced their criticism of an apparent lack of understanding of the Northern Ireland issue, exclaiming ‘can we get someone up who does know?’
There were also questions raised surrounding the legitimacy of a panel of six that was all-white, comprising of three Conservatives and only one female speaker. The lack of diversity was criticized by the Green Soc panellist, Robin Tait. She said ‘I think it would be great if we could have a more diverse panel.
‘It’s perpetuating the echo-chamber. I’m happy to see student engagement, but its not going to feel accessible if it’s a homogenous panel that doesn’t represent everyone.’
Epigram / Cameron Scheijde
Tika Endeladze of the BUCA gave her response: 'I do agree that there was a huge gender imbalance on the panel and I agree that there are definitely fewer girls than guys participating in political societies.
'Obviously its an issue that has to be taken seriously but encouraging girls into politics by making more people be on the panel and take part in events would be something that societies would also have to consider.'
Some of those attending expressed their approval that such an event was taking place. Kira Treveil said ‘I voted Remain but we’ve been saying we’ve been quite interested in hearing the Leave campaign.
‘A lot of people have been shouting over the Leave campaign, not really listening to what they’re saying. People in front of us are getting aggressive. It’s very entertaining to watch.’
Bristol Lib Dems President Max Langer commented ‘This is a great event bringing together lots of different views on Brexit. It did skirt around some major issues: it is ridiculous that the Irish border came out only in the penultimate questions.’
‘The night is a farce. Drunken 18-19 year olds shouting about things they know nothing about.'
Labour source speaking to Epigram
The event, originally organised by BUCA, was promoted on Facebook as ‘Come watch six wannabe politicians ruin any potential political career by getting pissed and debating that famously uncontentious topic - Brexit. Audience participation is a must.’
With drinking games incorporated into the debate, feedback from the audience was largely positive, with most expressing that it was a fun way to engage in politics. Speaker Angus Goddard-Watts, said ‘I think it’s great fun. Even though people are heckling, it’s friendly heckling. That the crowd were friendly enough that I could go up there was great you know.’
Featured Image: Epigram / Zoë Crowther
