Outcomes Advanced Audio script

Page 39 Unit 4 Track 13

1
I used to like watching Star Quality, but since this scandal has erupted I’ve lost interest in it.
This story leaked out that they were encouraging people to phone in even though they’d
already decided the result. They were manipulating things so that one guy didn’t get voted off
because it helped the programme’s ratings if they had a kind of hate figure. I might not have
minded so much if the calls were free, but they’re making a fortune on them.

2
We only called a vote because negotiations were going absolutely nowhere and, despite the
massive support we’ve received from our members, the management is persisting with a
ridiculous offer that will basically result in a drop in the value of wages next year. If they
hadn’t been so reluctant to negotiate, we would not be taking this action now. We understand
the public’s anger and frustration – we share it – but the blame for this dispute lies firmly
with the train company, not with us.

3
I’m totally in favour of a vote on the issue. The way the current system works, some parties
get a seat with only 100,000 votes, while others who poll more than twice that don’t get any.
In the run-up to the election, the New Party had promised to hold one if they got into power,
but in the event all that talk has faded away. I guess if they hadn’t won a landslide victory,
they’d be keener to bring about electoral reform, but I truly believe the vast majority of the
electorate still wants to see a change and would vote yes, whatever their reservations.

4
To be honest, I suspect that if they’d called on another day, I wouldn’t have taken part, but I
was at a bit of a loose end when the researcher called and so had some time to spare. It took
about half an hour, and I have to admit I quite enjoyed it – moaning about the government!
Mind you, when the results were published in the paper, I was a bit taken aback. It seems I’m
in a small minority. People must be mad!
5
It’s easy to be cynical and to say that it changes nothing – that it’s all just done to create the
illusion of fairness and inclusivity – but I can assure you that simply isn’t the case here.
Given that relatively few people vote these days, we feel it’s essential for young people to
learn that democracy can contribute to positive change. Apart from deciding things like the
end-of-term trips, pupil reps can also decide on policy. It’s unlikely we would’ve abolished
uniforms if we didn’t have a body like this. It isn’t compulsory to vote, but nearly everyone
does.