After the decision in February for the Stop AIDS Campaign to support the campaign for the Robin Hood Tax, Southampton Stop AIDS Society went to work on their battle plan. Among the key points that arose in the plan it was pointed out that the Robin Hood Tax would be able help people abroad and people in the UK.

This opened the door to a large scale power that they might be able to throw behind the RHT campaign, which is the power of the Student’s Union. Matt Quinn the president did some research into how students can change union policy by reading the union’s constitution and consulting the VP for education and representation. The conclusion was that if it was not a political campaign and that he could hold his own in debating its relevance at Union Council he may be able to pass a motion, getting the Student’s Union to support the campaign and its campaigners.

“The Robin Hood Tax Motion” was brought before council on Monday the 19th of April, debated hard and then voted upon. Highlights of the debate were that some members believed that the motion was too political and did not affect students. The motion states that the Union will publicly support the campaign and its supporters. The vote results were: 59% for, 30% against and 11% abstained from the vote. Southampton Stop AIDS hopes to introduce leaflets and banners on site as well as place an advert on the union’s website stating its support. “This has been a huge step for the campaign, now we just need other uni’s to follow!”

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