NEWS ARCHIVE
MP quizzed by St Austell Politics students
First and second year A-level politics students from Cornwall College's St Austell campus quizzed the local MP, Stephen Gilbert, on a wide range of local, national and international issues when he visited them on Friday.
The MP, who studied A-Level politics at the College in the early 1990s, was questioned on topics that ranged from the Government's plans to cut the deficit to the potential for conflict with Iran over that country’s nuclear program. He attended the college after being invited by the students themselves who wanted to hear a first-hand account of life inside Westminster.
Stephen Gilbert MP said; "It's been sometime since I was a student at St Austell doing my own politics A-level and it was great to be back again at the college and to get the chance to speak to a new generation of students who are trying to understand how the political system works. Many people think that young people aren't interested in politics but in my experience many are, they are particularly concerned with the consequences of climate change but are keen to make a difference across a whole range of issues.”
Students asked him questions covering everything from whether pint glasses should be made out of toughened glass to the sanctions that are being put on Iran. One of the students, Charlotte Knight, who may one day wish to become an MP herself and has also recently been voted Chair of Cornwall College Student Union, commented: “It was really interesting to hear the views of topical subjects from someone currently in government. It was also really interesting because he grew up in the local area and can understand the point of view of the students here, as he is a former student himself.”
Dave Linnell, Principal of Cornwall College, commented: “It was fantastic to welcome Steve Gilbert back to Cornwall College St Austell. The students found the talk informative and interesting; it is always inspiring to see the achievements of our former students and I hope to see students following in Steve’s footsteps. We are proud to think that we are educating future leaders and encouraging our students to take an active interest in the issues facing their local communities.”
For more information about Cornwall College please call 0845 22 32 567, visit www.cornwall.ac.uk, or find us on Twitter @cornwallcollege.
