Students cannot name Labour leader

Many students are unaware that Gordon Brown is the leader of the Labour Party.

A poll of 1,566 students found that 33 per cent could not name Mr Brown as Labour leader, while 34 per cent could not name David Cameron as the leader of the Tories.

The survey was carried out by the student accommodation provider Unite.

President of the National Union of Students Wes Streeting said: "There is a wealth of evidence to show that students care about politics and realise its impact upon their lives such as fees and housing, particularly when it comes to those who seek to charge them more for less."

One million students, almost half the student population, are not expected to vote in the next general election.  The Green Party would win if students were the only voters.

The study also found that students believed actor Joanna Lumley and entrepreneur Alan Sugar would do a better job of running the country then the current candidates.

Unite is cooperating with the Electoral Commission to provide information on the voting process. Unite-owned properties will soon receive publications, encouraging students to vote.