A postgrad student has been elected to run as Labour candidate for a Cambridge by-election.

George Bernard Owers, 21, is to run in the Coleridge by-election next month after Chris Howell, the Conservative’s last Cambridge city councillor, resigned. Owers studied Social and Political Sciences at Jesus College and is beginning postgraduate history research this year.

The by-election, which is being held on Thursday 4th November, will produce a new councillor in the Coleridge ward towards the south-east of the city.

Mr Owers has stressed the importance of local affairs: “Why I have stood, and why I am interested in getting involved with local politics rather than student politics, is that student politics covers a very narrow spectrum of issues. I’m interested in areas which are actually quite deprived and have social problems. Coleridge has a very high percentage of pensioners and people on benefits.”

“As students who are privileged we have a social responsibility to improve the city so that some deprived places don’t get lost in the fog.”

Mr Owers insists that his young age is not a sign of inexperience: “I’ve been a candidate three times before, so I’m no rookie. Earlier this year I was a candidate for the Abbey ward by-election, and before that in Market ward. Also, in 2007 I ran for councillor in my home town in Essex.”

Coleridge is one of 14 Cambridge wards.

Mr Owers describes himself as “a conservative in feeling, a radical in politics”.
Owers has been praised by current Chair of the Universities’ Labour Club, Ashley Walsh: “George has been a tireless campaigner for equality and social justice in the University and the city. This is why I am proud to have campaigned to elect him in the by-election”.

Walsh goes on to portray Owers’s comparatively young age in a positive light: “His efforts and intelligence are matched with formidable election experience, despite his relative youth.”

Mr Owers has an impressive record supporting the local area, including a successfull campaign to keep marshals in Cambridge.

In conjunction to addressing environmental issues within the community, Owers has preformed research for the leading sociologist Anthony Giddens, a former adviser to Tony Blair, on businesses’ response to combating climate change.

Owers offers his opinion on some of the coalition government’s policies. as “unnecessary and painful”.

He highlights the Liberal Democrats for their “tendency to ignore the poorer areas of Cambridge because it’s not really within their radar.” He also criticised the Lib Dems in response to the recent spending cuts.

As a member of a younger generation likely to bear the brunt of government cuts to house-building, he wants to challenge the Lib-Dem city council’s “risible” record on providing sufficient affordable housing.

Government spending cuts appear to be affecting the local and student community alike with numerous campaigns emerging against the proposed science spending cuts.

Owers is former chair of the Cambridge Universities Labour Club