Three Local MP’s Hold Meetings with Students During ‘Colleges Week’

On 21 and 22 October, as part of ‘Colleges Week’, a national campaign linking staff, students and supporters to promote colleges, James Murray (MP for Ealing North), Virendra Sharma (MP for Ealing Southall), and Andy Slaughter (MP for Hammersmith), held virtual meetings with students at West London College in order to discuss issues that are important to them.

On Thursday 22 October Andy Slaughter MP spoke to students based at Hammersmith & Fulham College about a range of issues including the impact of government cuts on the further education sector, Brexit and the trade deals with other countries, the congestion charge increase, the construction industry after Brexit, COVID-19 and the furlough scheme, the future of Charing Cross Hospital and Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals to be extended over the holidays to stop children going hungry.

On Wednesday 21 October, James Murray MP spoke to young learners based at Ealing Green College about his career as an MP, he then answered questions about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the problems with the NHS Test and Trace service, the proposal to scrap free travel for under 18s and Labour’s plans for apprenticeships.

Also on Wednesday 21 October Virendra Sharma MP spoke to students on the External Wall Insulation course at Southall Community College about the impact of COVID-19 on the construction sector, the Grenfell tragedy and worries about external wall insulation, whether Labour will keep the Government’s Green Grants scheme, and how Labour will boost the construction industry. The External Wall Insulation Course is a Sector-based Work Academy, which is designed with employers to provide important skill-specific training and job opportunities to people who are unemployed and claiming benefits.

Commenting on the virtual meetings, David Warnes, Deputy Principal: Strategy, Planning and Communications, said: “It’s always a privilege to have our local representatives engage with our students, developing their citizenship skills and raising issues that impact on their lives.”