University of Sheffield student standing as Conservative candidate in local council election

A University of Sheffield student is standing for election to Sheffield City Council as a candidate for the Conservative Party.

Sam Hemsley, a third year politics student, is standing in a by-election for the Woodhouse ward. He’ll be facing voters at the polls this Thursday (28th November).

Sam joined the party when he was 18 in 2022. Speaking to The Sheffield Tab, he explained why he wanted to get involved in politics: “I’d always been interested in politics and at that point, I’d had the chance to vote Conservative in an election, and be a supporter, [plus] I wanted to get more involved in the party.”

A work experience opportunity with his local MP confirmed for Sam that he wanted to work in politics: “I got to see first hand the work that MPs do, the work that local councillors do, and I wanted to go out and help and support them – so I joined the party, I helped knock on doors for local council elections in Bassetlaw, and in the general election too.”

A Tory student is an increasingly rare species in 2024. According to this poll from the summer, young people are less likely to vote for the Conservative Party than any other party – including the likes of the Green Party and Reform UK. Sam told us why he chose the Tory party in particular: “It fits with my fundamental beliefs. I’m in politics because I want to help people and I want people to treat others how they wish to be treated.

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“For me what I want out of government is more freedom and more freedom of choice – whether thats economic; for me to be able to have more money in my pocket and more importantly than that to spend it in the way that’s best for me

“And also I think the Conservative Party protects individual freedoms, in terms of rights – freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom to, as a gay Tory, be who I want to be.”

Sam explained how he feels there’s perception that LGBT people are stereotypically inclined to be left wing: “I think we should start treating people as individuals as opposed to stereotyping that because they belong to one group, they must be politically inclined a certain way.”

He added that being a Tory at uni hasn’t been a problem for him but he has received a small number of bad reactions: “There a small number of people, unfortunately, on the left, that view you being a Conservative as a personality flaw – and that’s sad.”

However, Sam hasn’t let anything dampen his enthusiasm for politics. He was selected for the by-election in the Woodhouse ward at the start of this month which was triggered by the death of incumbent councillor, Paul Wood, in September.

Sam said: “I wanted to apply because I thought I could give a voice, not just to students, but to people in Sheffield who think the council isn’t doing as much as they can.

“And I’m a big believer in putting your money where your mouth is. There’s no point just staying home on the sidelines, complaining. If I had an opportunity to got out there and potentially change things- that’s what I wanted to do.”

He also firmly believes young people, and especially students – from all political parties – should do the same. Furthermore, he thinks students should be more involved and engaged in local politics in general – although, he admits, the transient relationship that students have with their university cities, as most leave after they graduate, makes that more difficult.

Although there aren’t many students in the Woodhouse ward, standing up for students, and speaking about the issues that impact them, is one of Sam’s priorities. He says his perspective as a student means he can bring valuable insight to Sheffield City Council on dealing with “rogue landlords.”

He outlined his pitch to other young people, as a young Conservative: “Conservative values can offer an opportunity to people for aspiration that they want. Whether that is in economic terms, in education, or in keeping people safe from the threats we’re currently facing in the world.”