Runshaw College Q&A

It was fantastic to be back at Runshaw College last week, answering questions from more than 100 students about politics and some of the big issues facing our country.

The confidence, curiosity and willingness of these young people to challenge ideas and engage in debate was impressive and I was struck by the quality of their questions.

These are the young people who will shape the future of our democracy. They'll be our future voters, campaigners, community leaders and, who knows, perhaps even Members of Parliament.

I believe it's so important that we give young people a voice, encourage them to think critically and make sure they feel that politics is something they can be part of, rather than something that happens around them.

Of course, we also need to make sure they have the opportunities to fulfil their potential.

That's why I welcome the Government reforming post-16 education to give young people greater choice over what and how they study. From September 2027, new vocational qualifications called V Levels will begin to sit alongside A Levels and T Levels, allowing students to combine academic subjects with more practical, career-focused learning.

Whether their ambition is university, an apprenticeship or going straight into employment, young people should have a range of routes available to help them get there.

A huge thank you to everyone at Runshaw for inviting me, and particularly to the students for such a thoughtful, engaging and respectful discussion.

Our democracy will be in good hands if this is anything to go by!