Candidates’ Question Time took place on Thursday 4th February 2010 in the Students’ Union Main Hall. All candidates for all positions were present, and were required to make a three-minute speech outlining their policies before members of the audience were able to direct questions to the candidates.

The event was opened by current Students’ Union President, James Pidgeon, who told the audience, “Being a Sabbatical Officer requires a strong-mind, intuition and commitment; it’s often a thankless role in which you sometimes have to distance yourself from emotion, acknowledge criticism but then concentrate on looking ahead, and most, it’s a role which requires utmost passion.”

Candidates were also given the opportunity to film a one minute video to be shown prior to their speech. Some candidates chose to talk about policies in their manifesto, whilst others decided to give an artistic representation of their campaign.

The candidates made their speeches in reverse-constitutional order (VPSA followed by VP CommCam, VP Edwelfare and finally President) and alphabetically. All nominees were forbidden from hearing their oppositions’ speeches and videos and were asked one question by the Sabbatical Officer who is currently in the job they are campaigning for.

Candidates’ Question Time was chaired by Democracy Officer Ben Sibthorpe and lasted for almost four and a half hours, with the evening being brought to a close at almost midnight. Turnout to the event was huge, with the Main Hall packed and people having to stand or sit on the floor in order to hear the candidate speeches.

The Orbital streamed the entire evening live, and the video is available to view on our website, as is the live blog containing the events of the evening in its entirety. You can keep up-to date with the latest exit polls on our elections mini-site.