{"id":57798,"date":"2026-03-04T14:56:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk\/gairrhydd\/?p=57798"},"modified":"2026-03-04T14:57:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:57:01","slug":"alex-portman-ross-on-his-bid-for-su-presidency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk\/gairrhydd\/news\/alex-portman-ross-on-his-bid-for-su-presidency\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Portman Ross on his bid for SU presidency"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Edited by Olivia Griffin<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Alex Portman Ross discusses his 2026 Students\u2019 Union Presidential bid with Head of Politics Ruaidhr\u00ed Gillen Lynch.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Prefer to listen to this interview? Follow @gairrhydd<\/em><\/a> on Instagram for more information.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This interview is published verbatim. Views expressed are those of the candidate and do not necessarily reflect the views of Gair Rhydd or Cardiff Students\u2019 Union.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

So you of course are a student at Cardiff University, what are you studying and what previous experience do you have that makes you the most suitable option for the role?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So I\u2019m studying International Relations, I\u2019m really really enjoying it. I only knew IR was a degree because there\u2019s a display at my sixth form college that said you could do International Relations and I was like, \u201cYou can study that?\u201d Obviously applied to everywhere for it, ended up in Cardiff, was really happy to end up in Cardiff, not just because our rent compared to some places is pretty decent.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a really enjoyable degree, I\u2019d recommend it if anyone\u2019s looking to transfer. In terms of experience, I currently run the Model United Nations Society, where again, it\u2019s basically a lot of IR stuff, shocker.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019m also a student rep, I\u2019ve just come straight from the student staff panel where I was debating with lecturers about stuff they really don\u2019t want to change but we really think they should change. I\u2019m sure there\u2019ll be a lot of people who really don\u2019t like two-hour online exams. I saw my housemates cry.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Yeah, I\u2019ve got a lot of political activism in my past, a lot of campaigning, that kind of thing, debating skills obviously from MUN and then I did a lot of mock trials and stuff which I think will really help me. In the past I\u2019ve held a lot of similar roles, I was on my college executive school council, all the kind of nerdy stuff that tried to make change and sometimes did it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Where did you grow up, what kind of school did you go to and can you give us a bit of info about your childhood and teen years?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019m from a state school on the Somerset and Devon border. Under 50 percent of students at my school would pass Maths and English. Ours was actually a record high for Maths with 42 percent passing, so that kind of gives the background.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019m dyslexic as well so it was definitely a challenge in terms of support and stuff with that. I failed GCSEs, I didn\u2019t pass all my GCSEs. I think from my experience of dealing with, we were basically a school of farmers, people who might have a lot going on at home and then some other random kids, and it was a very weird dynamic but it definitely shaped my view on how people are treated.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The two head of department detentions I ever got were basically arguing because they were being nasty to my friends. It\u2019s kind of a theme through my life of getting over-involved where I probably don\u2019t need to but I guess hopefully it\u2019s going to work out for this.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When you think about your life outside of university and outside of this campaign what does that kind of look like for you? What does your free time look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019m really busy at the moment so my diary is literally page to page with things. I run a lot, it\u2019s such a good way to de-stress. If anyone sees someone screaming \u201cPaper Rings\u201d by Taylor Swift as they run around Cathays, it\u2019s probably me. My bad, I know the singing\u2019s not great.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I also play a bit of football, especially at home. I love football although I\u2019m absolutely terrible at it. I\u2019m pretty engaged with the sports kind of thing and then in terms of my social life I\u2019ve got some amazing friends and some not so great ones but I try to be there for everyone.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Keeping on that same theme, do you have a favourite social event in Cardiff whether it\u2019s a pub club society or anything else?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I used to be such a Misfits guy. The Misfits bucket, shout out. However the digital queue is probably the biggest shocker ever.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve become such a silent disco convert when YOLO has a full building. That silent disco is amazing until they get the foam cannon out.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Okay, getting on to some more specifics around the campaign. You\u2019re a second year student opting to take a sabbatical year if you\u2019re successful. Is this an experience that might be a weakness for you against your candidates?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s actually my biggest strength. I think the other candidates, especially in this election, two of them will by the time they finish this role have graduated for two years. As far as I\u2019m concerned, you\u2019re not a student at that point.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For me, somebody representing students should be a student and also the consequences of my actions will affect me and my friends. I\u2019m going to go home from every day and if I haven\u2019t made a statement on timetables being late or I haven\u2019t made a statement on stuff that Time to Act is working on, there\u2019s not going to be a big post, there\u2019s going to be my housemate hitting me probably, because the reality is that that scrutiny is always going to be around me and anything I fail to implement, the next year when I come back I\u2019m going to have to sit at the front of a lecture as I usually do.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Yes, I\u2019m a big nerd and have 500 people looking at my ginger head and hating me if I don\u2019t do a good enough job. I think genuinely it\u2019s probably my biggest strength, having as much on the line as other people and being connected to those other people.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think my whole personal belief is that I will not be running for a second term. I think this is a one-time job where we try to steer the ship and make things better, then I get back to uni and get on with my life essentially.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Your manifesto is certainly the most in-depth Gair Rhydd<\/em> has seen this year. Can you explain a bit about what you\u2019ve done to work with this, what your core message is and why you took the approach that you have?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So we also have probably the biggest campaign team. We have a first year representative, a second year representative, a third year representative, a women\u2019s and minority representative, then we have a campaign manager, a social media manager and then we have two translators. Essentially the main role of all of these people has been to bring your expertise, bring your friends\u2019 expertise.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We have some friends who are med students and we\u2019ve been talking to them about what\u2019s actually going on at Heath and how they actually feel, because I\u2019ve been there a few times and I\u2019ve been to a couple of events there but actually I\u2019m never going to be able to know as much as them.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think my biggest strength is being able to ask other people and engage with other people because the idea that I would know exactly what a postgrad wants is just ridiculous. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve ended up with such a long manifesto, because we\u2019ve allowed everyone to have their feedback. We hope that reflects what I would do if I did get this role and actually act like we\u2019re doing it from the off.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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<\/p>\nSafety is listed as your first priority in your manifesto. You speak about safety zones for students with support in services like the Cardiff University SafeZone<\/em> app. How do you plan to get some of this across the line when some of this can include going onto city streets, with much of the plan covering areas up to, you mentioned, Circuit?<\/strong>

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Yeah, so the SafeZone app, for anyone who doesn\u2019t know the context, is something that is used by Exeter University on their campus to keep students safe. You basically make a green zone on the floor. It\u2019s just like a green painted circle and then you\u2019re able to, as you\u2019re walking home, if you feel unsafe at any point, be that any type of threat essentially or any type of illness, we know we have a lot of ill students and stuff like that, you\u2019re able to then alert from the zone to get support.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The big part is obviously working with people. We know that all these figures have come out about how unsafe Cathays is. That\u2019s bad for the council, that\u2019s bad for the police, that\u2019s bad for the university and that\u2019s bad for the union. There are four income sources essentially to this scheme which will help the scheme actually work and I\u2019m very very very happy to step on toes and get angry.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think any council, union, university or police force that\u2019s against students being safe walking home is ridiculous and it should really be addressed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Essentially with safety, obviously everyone will have had horrible experiences or will know people who have had horrible experiences and our biggest thing is just making sure we can do a little thing to stop that.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So these cameras to keep the zone safe would be placed on union and university buildings initially, which we could literally do. We could get right now, you could go out and put three cameras and a bit of green paint on the floor and track a zone from Circuit to Taly, linking Senghennydd and linking to Column Hall and Aberconway. We could literally do it and there\u2019s no reason for them not to do it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The other thing in terms of that is obviously we have to focus on education and all the other things that will help us reduce these kinds of activities but I think that\u2019s something we could literally do, hopefully for freshers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Your approach is quite surveillance led and what evidence do you have that those sorts of schemes will bring tangible results for students?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think in terms of surveillance led, the surveillance is the initial contact. One of the hardest things anyone will have found, if you\u2019ve tried to call an ambulance at university or if you\u2019ve tried to call the police, is actually getting someone there.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I know I work downstairs in the Co-op and we just get robbed and threatened with needles and you\u2019ll get a police officer in in two hours. Well in two hours I could have three needle holes in me, ideally not obviously.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Essentially having that first bit of contact where the union already has 24-hour security camera monitoring, so we\u2019re not bringing in any extra cost in terms of that, you basically have someone in the union who you\u2019re making contact with.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The uni already has security patrols for campus who are going around anyway, so you can get them out to you. So it is definitely led by surveillance but I think the surveillance is part of making a scheme that actually works.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You speak about that increased support from the Union and you specifically talk about housing. Are you saying that you believe the housing campaign that the current SU President Maria Pollard, your competitor, has brought in this year isn\u2019t good enough?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think the housing campaign has brought a lot of eyes to the attention of housing and I know a lot of people have benefited from the fairs. But people are still going on Facebook to find housemates. That\u2019s still the first method everyone turns to unfortunately.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Our approach to housing would be more direct. I think a lot of issues that people are having with housing, obviously finding housemates and stuff can be a real struggle, but one of the main issues that I\u2019m sure everyone\u2019s witnessed is dealing with really nasty landlords.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I have friends, let\u2019s say, who gaslight the hell out of you and manipulate you and threaten legal action and do all these things to try and keep you down.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I feel like everyone listening has probably had an experience where a second year or third year has been telling a fresher, don\u2019t go with this company, don\u2019t go with that company. One of the schemes we\u2019d be interested in bringing in is a ranking system so that you can rank agencies.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It would be anonymously ranked but you\u2019d have to provide proof that you\u2019ve actually used that agency and then you can rank, you know, I dealt with this company and I ranked them three out of ten because they wouldn\u2019t fix this, they never did this, they never cared about us, because everyone should have access to that information.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Going to a fair and finding housemates is great but then if you end up living somewhere where every day is stressful and every day you\u2019re getting mould poisoning, that\u2019s unacceptable.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You then go on to speak about freedom of speech on campus, saying you will stand up for it and use the union\u2019s power to advocate for it. How?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think a big issue we\u2019ve had was the injunction. I personally read through the injunction and the way it was essentially done was saying that they were having more cost because of security.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The university using these measures against students is something where the union needs to step in. We can\u2019t have lukewarm statements. We need to have a real fight and I think there\u2019s also a link with student media. Our student media needs to be protected.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One of the things we\u2019re looking towards now is obviously you guys have a council regulating you and the by-laws aren\u2019t always updated and that\u2019s something I\u2019d really look to engage with.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Freedom of speech on campus is the first thing a union should be advocating for because we need to point out issues.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As you go on to say, you describe the restrictions of student media as terrifying. What work, including the by-law stuff, do you plan to take to ensure that that\u2019s no longer possible? Are you open to those discussions being led by Gair Rhydd<\/em> and other student media bodies?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think I\u2019ve shown with my manifesto that my main priority is always to go to the people who understand the issue best and obviously that is going to be our student media bodies.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think having a conversation about someone when they\u2019re not in the room is, firstly excuse the French, bitchy, and secondly it\u2019s just pointless. You\u2019re not going to develop anything.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think having student media involved in making a system that is fit for purpose for student media is what we should be doing. I think the rumours of the union kind of being nasty to the student media groups is abhorrent.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This is a students\u2019 union and the biggest weapon of the students\u2019 union to fight injustice should be the student media.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

And with that, are you open to ideas of complete editorial independence?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think I understand sometimes the override comes from a legal perspective but we need to have a conversation about whether it\u2019s coming from a legal perspective or whether it\u2019s coming from the union being scared to step on the university\u2019s toes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think the union\u2019s perspective that they can\u2019t step on the university\u2019s toes, when the university\u2019s communication with them is so lax around so many things, is like, you\u2019re already in the doghouse, why are you worried about it raining?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You speak about mental health and some of the failing supports, saying that we should take things like the All Right Mate<\/em> campaign as something to be very proud of. What does this mean for you? What\u2019s going to happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Firstly, just to explain the All Right Mate <\/em>campaign, because so many engaged students won\u2019t know about it, which is firstly abhorrent. The All Right Mate<\/em> campaign basically just encourages you to check in on your friends.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure we\u2019ve all had personal experiences where your housemate or one of your course friends just saying \u201care you all right?\u201d makes such a difference. You have a little cry to them and you go to the library after your lecture and suddenly you feel so much better about everything. Usually there\u2019s also a coffee involved, I feel like, and those kinds of schemes have really good basis but nobody knows about them.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think that\u2019s the saddest part.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Your manifesto repeatedly stresses that you won\u2019t make empty or unrealistic promises. How will students be able to measure your success throughout your term if you\u2019re successful?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s really important that students know, firstly, what we\u2019re standing for, so we\u2019ll keep that publicised.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think the weekly updates that some of the sabbatical officers have been doing are good. I think students need to know exactly what their sabbs are working on.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also seen a lot of talk about a tracker and stuff like that. I think that\u2019s a good way of measuring it. However, I think the best way of measuring it will be, hopefully, next year when you can see green paint on the streets and CCTV cameras that indicate that you are safe to walk home.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Several of your proposals rely on collaborations with bodies like the university, council, police and other external partners. What do you plan to do if this cooperation doesn\u2019t go to plan? What\u2019s the plan B?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think the plan B is to fight and I think that\u2019s something a union should do. A union in general, not just a students\u2019 union. Students\u2019 unions have such a good history of fighting and sometimes fighting dirty.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Essentially, especially on the Safe Zone thing, if the police are against the Safe Zone thing, that\u2019s a thing that the media should know. That\u2019s a thing that the taxpayers should know. That\u2019s a thing that everyone who is affected by these authorities should know about.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think this is a political role and students use it in a political way, but part of having political capital is using the political capital. There\u2019s no point building political capital to just let it sit there.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

You describe accessibilities across the university experience. Given you say you will not re-run for a second term if you\u2019re successful, how can students trust that improvements will occur in a single term?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I think accessibility is definitely a long process. We could definitely look at an AGM motion, which is something we\u2019d be looking to for the Safe Zone work to continue.<\/p>\n\n

I have a lot on the line. I\u2019m a dyslexic student. I had a massive fight with the university today and at the student staff panel about accessibility. One of the things we were talking about was putting links to accessibility resources on your Learning Central tab so you can actually access it and know that you have that opportunity and support.<\/p>\n\n

In my first exam at the university, I didn\u2019t apply for the right conditions quickly enough and it directly impacted me. If this is happening to students, that\u2019s absolutely heartbreaking.<\/p>\n\n

I also have family members who have accessibility needs, so it\u2019s such a priority for me that I\u2019m not just saying this performatively. We are going to try and make real change.<\/p>\n\n

I just wanted to pick up a little bit about the physical disability side of things, because I have family members who are physically disabled. I noticed in your manifesto you said that it\u2019s unacceptable that certain buildings are not accessible at all. What would you do to make a change?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

For example, in this building, if a lift is out, someone might need to wait. Even worse than that, we all saw the stories last year of people being rescued by the fire brigade from the external lift.<\/p>\n\n

I think in terms of accessibility, they\u2019ve spent, I know there\u2019s been reports in the paper recently about how much they\u2019ve been spending on hubs and stuff like that. The university is telling people they don\u2019t have the money to do things on accessibility and then they\u2019re spending it on other things. That\u2019s a choice about what you prioritise.<\/p>\n\n

There are simple changes that are low cost that can make such a difference. One of them is signage to lifts. Trying to find a lift in a university building is half the problem. Hoping the lift works is the second part of the problem. Being able to use it is the third part of the problem.<\/p>\n\n

These things can be addressed and I think the university would probably be quite eager to address them when they\u2019re pointed out.<\/p>\n\n

One of the big things that came up during our consultation was students saying that a lot of buildings will have a disabled toilet on the ground floor and nowhere else. Lifts have been around for a very long time. Disabled students should be able to access all floors of a building, assuming the lifts are working.<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s just heartbreaking that you want to pop out in the ten-minute break you have in a two-hour lecture to go to the toilet but you can\u2019t do that because you have to go down five floors and go to a lift that\u2019s ridiculously far away.<\/p>\n\n

Something I\u2019ve been looking into recently is the accessibility of Cathays Station. I\u2019m not sure if you\u2019re aware but if you have limited mobility, that station is completely inaccessible. The plans, the money, the funding, it\u2019s all there. It just needs someone to push it through. Would you be happy to be that voice?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

A hundred percent. I think, firstly, contact me about it and let\u2019s talk about the manifesto and let\u2019s get stuff in there.<\/p>\n\n

Secondly, Cathays station didn\u2019t used to have ticket barriers. They\u2019ve changed the station to put ticket barriers in but they haven\u2019t changed it to make it accessible. Those kinds of priorities are just sad.<\/p>\n\n

This is the most convenient station, especially for people in the room who are JOMEC students, getting between campuses and things like that. It just shouldn\u2019t be a barrier. It really shouldn\u2019t be a barrier.<\/p>\n\n

You described the decision to remove the VP Heath Park role as concerning and a failure of the Heath Park Campus website which you say is filled with basic errors, saying that representatives of Heath ought to be paid and that Heath students\u2019 voices may not have been sufficiently heard. How do you feel the current sabbatical officers\u2019 approach was insufficient and how do you suggest addressing it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Essentially, on that, I think the approach in general was flawed. This was an AGM that was held in Cathays at 6pm on a Wednesday. Anyone who lives with or is friends with students who are on placement knows that that is just not feasible for them to get to.<\/p>\n\n

There was no online access for them to vote. Furthermore, the three motions of the AGM were widely publicised but because this was an internal structural change, it wasn\u2019t widely publicised in the same way.<\/p>\n\n

The majority of Heath students didn\u2019t know this was changing, so they didn\u2019t know it was going to change. They probably couldn\u2019t get there and if they did get there, in many cases they were outvoted by students from the Cathays campus who know nothing about the Heath.<\/p>\n\n

What makes you the best candidate? Why are you the best candidate for students?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

I think having so much on the line really makes a difference. There\u2019s no way I\u2019m going to be able to walk through the street and not have someone say, \u201cOh, what have you done on this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n

I think the visibility of an SU president is so important to making them good at the role. I think about a third of students will probably vote in this election and that\u2019s something we\u2019re really going to try and change. We want as many people represented as possible and as many people consulted on our manifesto as possible to make as much change as possible that actually suits and works.<\/p>\n\n

That links back to my ability to listen to people\u2019s approaches and to help develop and facilitate ideas. Having accountability, with people literally staring me in the face and calling me an idiot, hopefully not, makes a real difference.<\/p>\n\n

Having had so many of these experiences and having friends who\u2019ve had those experiences, like working while studying, is really conducive to how I view the student experience. I think that hopefully makes me a candidate that people will consider.<\/p>\n\n

Even if you don\u2019t want to put me as your first choice, I\u2019d really appreciate being on your ballot at all.<\/p>\n\n

I think everyone should vote, whether it\u2019s for me or another candidate. Read the manifestos, see what you think, contact the candidates and put some effort in. It\u2019s really horrible too but you do get a \u00a35 voucher at the end, so it all pays off.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Edited by Olivia Griffin Alex Portman Ross discusses his 2026 Students\u2019 Union Presidential bid with Head of Politics Ruaidhr\u00ed Gillen Lynch. Prefer to listen to this interview? Follow @gairrhydd on Instagram for more information. This interview is published verbatim. Views expressed are those of the candidate and do not necessarily reflect the views of Gair Rhydd or Cardiff Students\u2019 Union. So you of course are … Continue reading Alex Portman Ross on his bid for SU 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