Gordon Brown visits University
April 27 2010
Gordon Brown visited Southampton Solent University on Monday 26, as the general election campaign stepped up a gear.
The Prime Minister was at the Sir James Matthews Building to answer an hour-long session of unscripted questions from members of the public during a special session hosted by local radio station, Wave 105.
He was greeted by Labour candidates for Southampton Test and Itchen, Alan Whitehead and John Denham, and Portsmouth North candidate Sarah McCarthy-Fry before being introduced to Deputy Vice Chancellor Jane Longmore and University of Southampton Vice Chancellor Don Nutbeam.
During the Q and A session - in front of a conference room packed with media – the Prime Minister fielded questions on a wide range of topics from a cross-section of Wave 105 listeners. He said he was committed to jobs and public services, which depended on building a strong economy.
He said Southampton was a great city with two good universities which would play an important part in training students in the creative and science industries, performing a crucial role in aiding the country’s economic recovery.
Mr Brown tackled topics including tuition fees, health and community care, state pensions, antisocial behaviour, Europe, schools and help for service personnel and their families.
Pictured - left to right: University of Southampton Vice Chancellor,Professor Don Nutbeam; Solent University Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Jane Longmore; Solent University Director of Marketing and Communication, Trevor Thorne; Labour candidate for Southampton Itchen, John Denham; Prime Minister