Students quiz local candidates ahead of general election (From Gazette Series)

Students quiz local candidates ahead of general election

12:00pm Friday 12th March 2010

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A DATE for the general election might still be undecided but the three parliamentary candidates for the new Thornbury and Yate constituency have kicked off their campaigns.

More than 250 18-year-olds met the political candidates fighting for their votes at a Question Time style event, held at The Castle School in Thornbury this week.

In the hotseat were Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat candidate and the existing MP for Northavon. He was joined by Conservative candidate Matthew Riddle and 20-year-old Roxanne Egan, who is standing for the Labour Party.

At the next election Northavon is to be divided into two new constituencies, Thornbury and Yate, and Filton and Bradley Stoke.

For more than an hour the candidates took questions from students, who came from sixth forms across the constituency including Marlwood in Alveston, Brimsham Green in Yate and the Winterbourne International Academy.

Kathy Fawcett, head of Castle School Sixth Form, who organised the debate, said: "So many of our students had said to me they weren’t going to vote and that alarmed me, so we have arranged this to encourage them to vote."

Speaking after the debate all three candidates said they thought the event had been a very worthwhile exercise.

Steve Webb said: "It’s been fantastic and will be one of the biggest meetings with voters in the entire campaign.

"I think the diversity of questions was fantastic, terrorism, drugs, employment, immigration, it wasn’t just young people asking about themselves."

Matthew Riddle said: "When we have got a debt crisis, a jobs crisis and a political crisis, everyone's vote counts and will be instrumental in bringing the change we so badly need, not to mention restoring trust in politics and making sure that young people are equipped with the skills and knowledge that gives each of them the very best start in life."

Roxanne Egan said: "It was really good to be with the young people and give them the opportunity to engage with politics and us the candidates."

Students who took part also enjoyed the opportunity.

Rebecca Stephens, 18, from The Castle School, said: "It was really interesting to actually see the candidates and listen to what they had to say. To meet them in person really does encourage you to vote."

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