Readers react over Portsmouth City Council leader's claims students should not have returned to city

Speaking after the seven-day rate of Covid cases exceeded 200 per 100,000 people for the first time, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson said: ‘University students should never have been allowed to come back – not just in Portsmouth but nationally – it was a not a good decision from the government.

‘The highest rates of infection are in the 18-to-25 age group and infection rates in Portsmouth are higher in this age group than most other parts of the country.’

After deciding not to include universities, colleges and schools in the latest lockdown, prime minister Boris Johnson, defending the stance and said: ‘We must not let this virus damage our children and young people’s education.’

The university has also spent £10m to put measures in place to mitigate the risk of Covid transmission.

There has been a mixed reaction from our readers on social media. Here is a flavour of what people posted.

Those against students returning

Barrie Fredericks: ‘They should have been sent home or never started courses. The rate in the city only went up when they arrived. Everyone should have realised what would happen if you move half million young people around the country.’

Lou Rogers: ‘Students should have had to go back to their home towns in March and stayed there until this had completely gone away.’

Sandy Efemey: ‘We could have got over this if the university didn't open.’

Yhamel Osborne: ‘So true. I agree students shouldn’t have come back. They brought the virus from other parts in the country to us.’

Julie Ann Bonsall: ‘When I came home from work this evening there were lots of students wandering around in groups. It didn't look any different - I wouldn't have known we were in another lockdown.’

Those supporting students returning

George Watson: ‘Statistically speaking, a lot of the local businesses would go under if students were not here. The vast number of fast food and takeaways wouldn’t be sustainable. Students bring in roughly £474m to the local economy yearly.

Tim Collins: ‘Interesting, as the areas in Portsmouth showing the highest rates of infection are not student areas.’

Bogdan Dolanescu: ‘Those students and school kids are not the real problem. Remember when they opened pubs? That was a rise in cases.‘Then when they gave Eat Out to Help Out? That was a rise in cases. You can’t blame a single entity.’

Helen Plews: ‘Let them learn. It's not the university, it's the after-parties where distancing goes astray. Cracking down with a curfew and better policing would benefit the country more as we need the next generation of researchers. The university have done a fabulous job. It's not them - it's on the pavements, the parties and the pubs.’

SEE ALSO: Should schools be closed during lockdown? Here’s what our readers think

What the students said

Students also felt compelled to defend their return to the city.

George Watson: ‘The council let the university buy up loads of buildings, let student accommodation companies renovate abandoned office blocks but has a problem with students. Not all of us are bad. Myself and my housemates are staying indoors, only going out to the shops for essentials and to the few face-to-face sessions we have.

‘I’ve sacrificed a lot to still get an education, but if the council leader wants to give me back my £9,250 for tuition and pay my rent I’ll go home and come back next year.

‘The university is doing everything in its power to keep everyone safe and those bad eggs partying are getting into trouble with the university, especially if they’re breaking the law in regards to Covid regulations.’

Emily Evans: ‘I'm 29, with a seven-year-old. I work part time and I’m at university full-time. Not all of us are bad students. I've been out once for a meal this whole year and I haven't been partying.

‘I think it's a shame people are saying we are to blame. Our lessons are done via Microsoft Teams and we are only at university one day a week to do our practicals.’

A number of posters believed the decision was a financial one with students having already committed to paying thousands of pounds in tuition fees.

Mikey Elliott commented: ‘The government wanted students back because they'd have to finance the costs to the universities, if they didn't go back.’

Pauline Jane Amey added: ‘They want the students’ money – £9,000 for almost a hour’s learning at home once a week.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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