Suffolk students quiz parliamentary candidates ahead of election

Students in West Suffolk and Ipswich were given a unique opportunity to quiz local parliamentary candidates during two hustings events.

In West Suffolk, representatives from eight political parties (Communist Party, Conservatives, Green, Independent, Labour, Liberal, Reform and Rejoin EU) appeared in front of the Abbeygate Sixth Form’s packed theatre, with the audience made up of students from the College, West Suffolk College, and King Edward VI School.

The candidates - who are standing in the Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket constituency -were faced with a series of questions prepared by students themselves, with topics ranging from the climate crisis, to the NHS - as well as the national service proposal. 

The occasion was chaired by Elliott Wright, a teacher of history and politics at Abbeygate Sixth Form, who said that it was important for young people to 'have a voice' in this election.

"Many of the students across the college have an active interest in politics and were all keen to know what the parties stand for,” he said.

"The main purpose of the event was to inform our students, but also to give them a voice and an opportunity to share their concerns and queries about their future.”

Redford Lorking, 17, from Bury is a politics student at the college. Redford said: "I think a lot of the problem is with the voting system. Because it's first past the post, it's almost guaranteed that one of the two major parties will win the vote - so a lot of young people don't feel represented."

In Ipswich, One Sixth Form College in Ipswich also hosted a hustings event. Over 200 people attended, with questions being posed to parliamentary candidates from across Ipswich, Central and South Suffolk.

Questions covered topics such as the housing crisis, immigration, the environment and transport.

The candidates in attendance were from Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal and Reform.

Rob Pollard, Head of English at One, who chaired the event, said: “It is vital that young people are given the opportunity to connect with local and national politics and take part in debates that will affect their future.”

Cathy Durrant, the Head of Pastoral Support at Eastern Education Group, said: “It's really important to get our students enthusiastic about the process and to see it first-hand so they can get an appetite for what they could do in the future.”