Top Tory toff fined for drunken antics

By Rory Reynolds

A TOP Tory toff was given both barrels by police after drunkenly climbing up scaffolding and disturbing residents.

Shamed Joe Cawley, 20, – the current Chairman of Edinburgh University’s Conservative and Unionist Association – was out boozing with pals at posh party in the city’s New Town before scrambling up the scaffold.

The 3rd year philosophy student – who enjoys hunting and once campaigned for Watford Tory candidate Richard Harrington – was caught by police in Northumberland Place on Thursday around 3am.

He and another 21-year-old man, who hasn’t been named, were stopped by police who ordered them to climb back down.

They were detained at the scene for breach of the peace and issued with an immediate £40 on the spot fine.

Top tory’s son impales foot on spike in snowman blunder

By Oliver Farrimond

THE son of a top Tory has had his hopes of becoming student union president dashed – after he impaled his foot on a spike.

Edinburgh University student Oliver Mundell – whose dad is Conservative MP David Mundell – was climbing over a fence in the city’s George Square so he could build a snowman with friends.

But he slipped and the metal spike pierced right through his foot, leaving him skewered on the fence.

Two fire engines raced to the scene and Mundell had to be cut free using a hacksaw before he was taken to hospital.

Now he faces a month of campaigning for student president from a wheelchair – dubbed his battle bus – after having reconstructive surgery on his foot.

Hapless Mundell, 19, said: “I had my foot on a wooden board propped against the fence, which gave way and the spike went straight through my other foot.

“It took seven firemen about fifteen minutes to cut my foot free – I’m looking at a lengthy spell in a wheelchair now.”

He denied that he had been drinking before the accident in the early hours of Monday morning.

His father David Mundell has been Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland since 2005, and is the only Conservative MP to represent a Scottish constituency in the Westminster parliament.

Oliver, whose campaign slogan is ‘Funding, Feedback, Freedom’, called his father at 3am to say that his foot had been impaled and that he was being cut free.

He said: “He’s been to visit me in hospital since – he was quite alarmed when I gave him the news.

“Although I don’t totally agree with his political views, I do think the Conservatives give people a clear set of beliefs and values.

“They’re just not necessarily the same as mine.”

The news of his injuries comes just days after campaigning for the prestigious role officially started.

And although the wound might give his competitors a head start they insist there was no ill will towards the Divinity student, from Moffat.

Liz Rawlings, who is also running, said: “None of us want to win this by default by injuries to our competitors so I wish him a speedy recovery.

“It’s an unfortunate injury and hopefully it won’t affect his campaign too much.”

But current EUSA president Adam Ramsey said: “It’ll be very hard work for him to campaign properly – there’s a lot of steps to climb in Edinburgh.

“Running for president is certainly not very easy if you have a hole in your foot.”

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue confirmed they were called out to the incident at 1.30am on Monday morning.

This is not the first time a hapless young conservative has caused embarrassment to the Tories.

In January of this year, 23-year-old Matthew Lewis was thrown out of the party for dressing up as Madeleine McCann, and then boasting about it to fellow Tories.

Students spend £5000 on “good neighbour guide”

By Cara Sulieman
A GOOD behaviour guide for students is being put together using £5000 of taxpayers’ money.

In an effort to keep their neighbours happy, student leaders at Edinburgh University are asking their rowdy classmates to produce a “good neighbour guide”.

But instead of doing the hard work themselves, they’re spending the cash to get an external company to do it for them.

The £5000 comes from the South Central Neighbourhood Partnership, one of twelve groups set up by the City of Edinburgh Council to improve quality of life in the capital.

The research will find out what residents think of students, and what the city’s young residents can do to keep their neighbours happy.

Thomas Graham, external convener of the Edinburgh University Student’s Association, thinks that the study is essential to finding out exactly what problems students are causing.

He said: “There are two types of students who cause problems.

“There are those who just don’t realize that their behaviour is unacceptable because this is the first time that they have had to live within the community since leaving home.

“It is these students that we are tackling with the good neighbour guide so that they can learn what steps they can take to limit their negative impact on the community.

“Unfortunately there are also students who are just anti-social and they need to be dealt with by the police and other authorities.

“What we’re trying to do is limit the negative effect students have on the communities in which they live and try to focus on the positive impact we make.”

The good neighbour guide will give tips on keeping down noise levels, rubbish collection and how to move in and out without causing too much upset.

On top of £5000, both the university and the students’ association are providing money to fund the research.

EUSA president Adam Ramsay thinks that the survey will help students and local residents to get along better as neighbours and understand each other better.

He said: “We need to ensure we have good relations with our neighbours. It’s all too easy for university cities to slip into a ‘town and gown’ mentality.

“This research will be a small step which will help us find out where we are now, and how the local community perceives students.”

The idea has received the backing of politicians, as they wait to see what outcome the survey has.Murdo Fraser, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning said: “This is an interesting idea and one that will clearly attract attention.

“Despite the use of taxpayers money, the motives behind it are clearly positive and so we should wait and see how this project develops before we say anything further.”