Tuesday 15-09-2020 - 17:17

Executive Committee met today, 15 September 2020, and unanimously approved Vice President Education Bee’s motion titled: “The Return of Students: The Unfair Blame Game”. The motion covers criticism of the UK Government’s narrative around blaming young people for the current spike in coronavirus cases, as well as the mixed messages. 

She highlights how young people were key targets of the “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme and how they are often the front-line staff at risk in these workplaces. The motion also calls for better guidance for universities as 2 million young people move to start term, and assistance at a national level with managing testing and potential outbreaks.  

Bee (VP Education) said: “I’m delighted that this motion has passed. This is a really pressing issue and I am deeply concerned that young people, students especially, are about to be wrongly blamed for the increase in coronavirus cases. This is a Government failure, and I’m glad to be taking action to join the national campaign to better protect young people across the UK.” 
 
The actions approved by the Executive Committee are as follows: 

1.    To stand with young people and students and denounce the Government’s unfair ‘blame’ shift.  

2.    Be part of a national campaign to call for better support from the government for Universities, including managing testing and outbreaks on campus. 

3.    Join the call for an extension to the furlough scheme to protect young people who are forced to work. 

Please click here to read the motion 🡵

If you have any queries you can email su.vp.education@lancaster.ac.uk