As Zimbabweans worldwide await the results of a tightly fought election, Sheffield Live spoke to Michael Mazorodze of the optimism among Sheffield’s Zimbabwean community. The contest is the first since independence without Robert Mugabe on the ballor paper. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Barnsley MP, Dan Jarvis has been appointed as the new mayor for the South Yorkshire region. Nigel Slack reports for Sheffield Live! from the count at the English Institute of Sport and speaks with candidates about about the election.
The Yorkshire Party has announced that Mick Bower will be it candidate for the forthcoming election for Sheffield City Region Mayor. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The Green Party in Sheffield have announced that Cllr Robert Murphy will be their candidate in the upcoming election for the Sheffield City Region mayor. The news follows a recent ballot of party members. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
A new plaque to honour Sheffield women’s suffrage movement activists who campaigned for the right vote is to be installed at their former shop on Chapel Walk. Following a campaign to honour the women by Sheffield Young People’s Equality Group, and a successful crowd-funding appeal, approval has now been granted and the plaque will be installed on International Women’s Day on March 8. The plaque forms part of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the passing of the Representation of the Peoples Act 2018 which gave women over 30 and ‘of property’ the right to vote. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Vote counting has begun in the West African state of Liberia in the run-off presidential election between Vice-President Joseph Boakai and former international footballer George Opon Weah. Former chairman for the Liberian Association of Sheffield, Prince Taylor, told Sheffield Live! many Liberians in the diaspora are hopeful there will be a peaceful transition of power in the country. Turnout was low in the boxing day polls but the result is expected to lead to the first smooth transfer of power in 73 years. Mr Weah, 51, won the first round, but did not secure the required 50 per cent of the vote for an outright victory. Legal challenges delayed the vote to replace Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is Africa’s first elected female president. Baillor Jalloh reports.
A YouGov poll of 50,000 people estimates 63 per cent of voters aged between 18 and 29 supported Labour in the General Election compared to just 22 per cent for the Tories. Earlier this week Sheffield Young Labour held a rally to protest Tory proposals to negotiate with the Democratic Unionist Party to support a minority government. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Sheffield Hallam Conservatives for their perspective on the election.
Polling stations will be open on Thursday 8 June from 7am until 10pm as election campaigning draws to a close. Sheffield Live! hit the streets to find out how the people of Sheffield will be voting and why. Simon Thake reports.
The Election Register will close at one minute to midnight on Monday 22 May for anyone who has not yet registered to vote in the General Election 2017. Young people who have not previously voted are especially being encourage to register by the deadline. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Hassun el Zafar of the National Union of Students.
Further information:
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
The Sheffield College are encouraging students and young people to register to vote in the General Election ahead of the deadline on Monday 22 May. The College have loaned a portable voting booth from Sheffield Council to raise student awareness of elections and voter registration. It is touring college campuses before the voting registration deadline following a launch at the Olive Grove campus off East Bank Road. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Steve Kelly, head of student services.