This election candidate gave away free toast outside 9am lectures

She called it ‘toastal votes’


Union elections kicked off yesterday and overnight it seemed like every inch of Union house, the Square and the Street was covered in election posters.

From Monday 1st until Tuesday 8th candidates will be canvassing for your votes around campus, hoping to convince you that they’re worthy of your vote.

One candidate, perspective Campaigns and Democracy officer Amy Rust, launched a particularly interesting initiative to inform people of her election goals. Perhaps taking rhetorical inspiration from last year’s “Goats for Votes” campaign, Amy is hoping to raise awareness of her pledge to lower food costs on campus with “Toastal Votes”.

On both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Amy and her team gave out free toast at the bus stops, in the Square and outside the central lecture theatres between 9-11am.

Amy said: “The cost of food on campus is increasing every year and it’s just not right. We know cost of living is one of the biggest issues that students face. If elected one of my main priorities will be tackling this issue.”

High food-costs has been a feature of a number of candidate’s manifestos, and with good reason. The price of Campus Kitchen has gone up from £5 to £5.25 and the price of a burger is £1 more than last year. Although Unio is the cheapest on campus for a coffee and cake, the £4.99 meal deals are still extravagant for most student budgets.

However, Amy says: “The causes will not go away over-night. That’s why this week I’ll be outside the bus stops, lecture theatres and in the square with free toast for all students. Next year, with your vote, I’ll be fighting to make food on campus cheaper for you.”

Keep an eye out in the next week for Amy’s campaign and others’.