Ramsay emerges from controversy as new student president

Adam Ramsay

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Adam Ramsay was finally declared the winner of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s presidential elections last week, almost two months after the elections were held.

Mr Ramsay secured a sizable victories over his rivals, winning 2271 first-choice votes (49.77 per cent of the first round) and only narrowly missed out on avoiding a second round of voting.

In the following round, after Nick Ward – who only secured 12.86 percent – was eliminated, Ramsay was awarded enough votes under the single transferable vote system to triumph over nearest rival Gabriel Arafa who took 23.45 percent of first-choice votes.

Harry Cole won 13.68 per cent of the vote and finished third.

In total, 4563 votes were cast in the presidential election, representing a total turnout of approximately 19.24 per cent of eligible students. Turnout fell some two hundred votes short of last years record of 4750.

The election results had been withheld for six weeks, while Mr Ramsay appealed against his disqualification from the race after being accused of cheating.

It was announced on 29 March that Mr Ramsay had won his appeal, following a decision by the elections appeal committee, which consisted of the university secretary Melvin Cornish and Prof Douglas Brodie, dean of the Law School.

The appeal itself had been delayed for several weeks after wrangling over who was allowed to sit on the committee, which usually consists of the sitting EUSA president, the vice president (services) and the rector of the university. Complaints were received about perceived conflicts of interest and all three were withdrawn from the committee.

The announcement was delayed a further three weeks until it was made certain that none of Mr Ramsay’s rivals were to challenge the appeal committee’s decision at an extra-ordinary general meeting.

Mr Ramsay was disqualified on 5 March, the second day of voting, was disqualified from the election by the students’ association’s returning officer, Graham Boyack, after two supporters were found to be campaigning at the University of Edinburgh’s Pollock Halls of Residence out-with permitted hours.

Mr Ramsay told The Journal: “I am very much looking forward to taking up the position of President over the summer. In particular, I am looking forward to working with the three Vice Presidents - George Thomas, Naomi Hunter, and Guy Bromley; and the whole team at EUSA.

"I am delighted that the appeals committee found in my favour. I did not personally break any rules in this election. The only rule that was broken was by my supporters had almost no impact on the final result.”

Harry Cole, who suffered in the polls as a result of revelations that he had mislead the electorate over his involvement in the now-infamous attack-blog EUSAless, said at the time of Mr Ramsay’s disqualification: “Nobody wants a cheat as president and nobody wants the EUSA elections process dragged through the mud.”

Losing candidate, Nick Ward, also said at the time: “I really do not think that the students want a cheat as a President and I cannot see how he will be able to form any relationship of trust with any other elected officials or members of staff.”

Next year’s sabbatical team will be made up of Mr Ramsay, Guy Bromley as Vice President (Academic Affairs), Vice President (Services) George Thomas and Vice President (Societies and Activities) Naomi Hunter.

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