Cambridge Union election results announced

Results for the Cambridge Union’s Standing Committee elections were announced this evening (12/03) in the Union Chamber.

10 candidates ran for five roles on the Standing Committee, the Cambridge Union’s “primary managerial body.” The new President, Debates Officer, Equalities Officer, Speakers Officer and Social Events Officer will begin their term in Michaelmas 2022.

President

Following two days of hustings, campaigning and in-person voting,  Lara Brown was elected the next President of the union.

A second-year English student at Downing, Brown won on a platform of accessibility. She promised to allocate the incoming Equalities Officers an autonomous budget to “do with what they wish.” She also aims to “reach out to the 93% club” to help publicise union scholarships.

Brown won with 215 votes, which equated to 40.9 per cent of the votes (including RON).

Debates Officer

Sam Carling was elected Debates Officer after being nominated by Sam Hunt, the current Debates Officer. He has previously served on the Union’s Full Committee, working in event management. 

He has proposed changing the format of debates by allowing speakers to respond to “points raised over the course of a debate.” His proposed change would give speakers another minute each at the end of a debate, offering them the “right to reply.”

Sam won with 218 votes.

Carling was also recently elected University Councillor in the Lent 2022 Student Union Elections.

Equalities Officer

Beating Georgia Fearn, Ellie Breeze was elected Equalities Officer, with 238 votes.

According to the Union’s website, Breeze will be responsible for chairing the Equalities Subcommittee, and for “representing and voicing the concerns and interests of minority groups at a Standing Committee level.”

Breeze was nominated by James Appiah, the incoming Equalities Officer for Easter 2022. One of her most notable campaign pledges is the establishment of a Class Act Officer for the Union, mirroring a move many JCRs have recently made. 

Breeze is reading HSPS at Peterhouse.

Ellenoor Shaemli (Speakers Officer) and Edward Hilditch (Social Events Officer) were also elected to the Standing Committee. They both ran uncontested. 

Feature Image Credits: Sarah Swift