Last week, A-Level Politics students at Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) ran a hustings event for local candidates ahead of the upcoming General Election on the 4th of July. The candidates making up the panel were Munira Wilson from the Liberal Democrats, Jonathan Hulley from the Conservative Party, Tom Bruce from the Labour Party, Reform UK’s Alex Starling and Green Party candidate, Chas Warlow. RuTC students, Monica Pirvu and AJ Ndong Ngonde did a fantastic job of chairing the event, where all candidates answered a series of tough questions posed by our learners, staff and audience.
It has been reported that younger generations currently have the lowest voting turnout and are the least engaged demographic when it comes to politics. It is therefore critical that they are given opportunities to learn more about what different political parties have to offer and the effects this will have on our society.
To start the hustings discussion, candidates introduced themselves with three-minute speeches, outlining their parties' aims and values on key issues. Pre-submitted questions from A-Level Politics students were then read out to the candidates, who were given one minute each to answer these. These questions highlighted issues such as stop and search, the Rwanda bill, the upcoming election, and sustainable transport. Members of the crowd were also given the opportunity to ask questions to the candidates, covering topics including the ongoing genocide in Ethiopia, advice to their younger selves, and the definition of 'woke'. The event concluded with another set of speeches, where the candidates commented on the day's discussion and encouraged votes for their parties.
This was an incredibly informative and inspirational forum for our students, where they felt they were able to have their voices and opinions clearly heard. It was a great opportunity for them to get more involved in politics and allowed the political candidates to gain more insight into the needs of young people. The debates were also useful in guiding students towards their chosen political party for this General Election.
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