In terms of politics, is the majority of the Cambridge student body very left-wing?

I get the impression that far-left progressivism is almost the default political position upheld by university students in this day-and-age; often to the point where those on the right of the political spectrum are a fringe minority.

Is this the case at Cambridge? Obviously, due to nature of academia and student demographics, the student body will always tend to lean to the left a bit... but will someone like myself who considers himself to be right-of-centre still find plenty of people with whom my political beliefs align?

How common is it to hear students voice positions such as the following (I don't happen to agree with all of these, I'm just giving examples); advocating tighter controls on immigration and lower net migration into the UK, criticisms of Islam, criticisms of feminism, less government intervention and less tax, criticisms of abortion/pro-life arguments, criticisms of gay marriage, criticisms of transgenders, arguments in favor of foreign intervention/colonialism, private, competitive and free-market healthcare/education and opposition to long-term welfare.

How does the whole student union system work at Cambridge? Am I right in thinking they are responsible for the college debates you seen on YouTube? If they are supposed to be a representation of the student body at Cambridge, then why is everything about them so heavily slanted to the Left?

I've noticed there are individual college unions, too. How do these differ in their purpose and role compared to the CUSU? Do they host their own debates too? And is Trinity still disaffiliated from the CUSU or did it rejoin?

I get the impression that far-left progressivism is almost the default political position upheld by university students in this day-and-age; often to the point where those on the right of the political spectrum are a fringe minority.

Is this the case at Cambridge? Obviously, due to nature of academia and student demographics, the student body will always tend to lean to the left a bit... but will someone like myself who considers himself to be right-of-centre still find plenty of people with whom my political beliefs align?

How common is it to hear students voice positions such as the following (I don't happen to agree with all of these, I'm just giving examples); advocating tighter controls on immigration and lower net migration into the UK, criticisms of Islam, criticisms of feminism, less government intervention and less tax, criticisms of abortion/pro-life arguments, criticisms of gay marriage, criticisms of transgenders, arguments in favor of foreign intervention/colonialism, private, competitive and free-market healthcare/education and opposition to long-term welfare.

Yes, I am.

1. Is this debating society politically neutral? Or do you find that there is still a left-wing bias there?

2. What is the actual purpose of the CUSU, then? What does it do for the average student at Cambridge? Does it impact them in any way?

3. If a JCR is simply a common room where people socialize, why would it be politicized? Are people who linger around these areas hostile towards those with conservative social/moral opinions?

As for the Conservative Association, is that a society *strictly* for students who support the Tories, vote for the Tories or have aspirations of one day being a member of the Tories? Or is it a general association for people interested in Conservatism as a political philosophy? If the former, are there any other societies at Cambridge for those who don't necessarily have unconditional support for the Tories but who are interested in meeting people with similar right-wing political-leanings?

I can rub along perfectly well with with those on the Left who genuinely adhere to liberal principles. You will probably be aware, however, that in the last 5-10 years, certain factions of the Left have changed beyond all recognition and lost sight of what they used to stand for. Instead of advocating free speech, liberty and tolerance, they're harping on about privilege, cultural appropriation and oppression. And it's very difficult to get along with someone when they genuinely view people on the right of the political spectrum as legitimately evil. You also constantly feel as if if you are treading on egg-shells whilst speaking to them in an attempt not to say something that will spark a hysterical response from them. For some reason, these people tend to be disproportionately represented at university relative to the general population, too.



Second part of post directed towards Chief Wiggum, Helenia or any other past/present Cambridge student with experience of this:

As for the Conservative Association, is that a society *strictly* for students who support the Tories, vote for the Tories or have aspirations of one day being a member of the Tories? Or is it a general association for people interested in Conservatism as a political philosophy? If the former, are there any other societies at Cambridge for those who don't necessarily have unconditional support for the Tories but who are interested in meeting people with similar right-wing political-leanings?