Students voted with their feet and piled into a packed Performance Hall at Craven College to hear the views of the parliamentary candidates standing for election in the Skipton and Ripon constituency. The event was organised by James Simpkin, Public Services Tutor and open to Craven College students and staff and politics students from Ermysted’s, Skipton Girls’ High School and Giggleswick School.
Chaired by Craven College Interim Principal, Joanne Sherrington, all four candidates were given five minutes to make an opening speech to the audience, in an order chosen by Ermysted’s students. Brian McDaid (Labour) was followed by Andrew Murday (Lib Dems), Andy Brown (Green Party) and John Dawson, Deputy Chairman of the Skipton & Ripon Conservative Party represented Julian Smith MP who had been called to Northern Ireland in his role as Secretary of State.
Public Services and politics students then asked the candidates a series of questions dealing with issues ranging from foodbanks, trade deals with the US, whether 16-year-olds should have the vote, the Irish border and Police Force promises.
Natalina Mudd, Public Services student said,’ Today really helped me to understand all parties’ points of view.’ Fellow student Ethan Holdsworth felt that, although he is not old enough to vote yet, after today, he would have known who to vote for.
L-R Max Hutchinson, James Simpkin, Brian McDaid, John Dawson, Ethan Holdsworth, Natalina Mudd, Andrew Murday, Andy Brown.
