PHSG students hold a Hustings debate with local party representatives.

On Monday 24^th June, PHSG hosted candidates from a range of parties standing in the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport seats, including the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrats, as well as representation from the Green Party in a hustings debate with our Sixth Form and wider school community.

With the General Election taking place on the 4^th July, we are holding a number of events over the next two weeks to raise awareness of the key issues that will affect our young people over the next 5 years. This will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to challenge the candidates on issues that directly affect them both locally and nationally.

For our Hustings debate we welcomed local councillors from a range of parties standing in the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport seats, including Gareth Steeter from the Conservative party, Luke Pollard from the Labour party, Hugh Janes from the Liberal Democrats, and Lauren Mclay from the Green party.

Janek and Harrison, year 12 students, were our moderators who opened up the floor for questions and did a fantastic job of keeping our councillors in check for timing, allowing each party to have an equal opportunity to address the students with their formulated answers.

Janek is studying Politics, Psychology and Ecconomics and Harrison is studying Politics, History and Law in our Sixth Form.

Questions asked focused on the following topics:

Building houses on green belt
Selling weapons to Israel
Transgender rights and legislation for self identification
Difficulties in getting Autism diagnosis and ECHP waiting lists
Access to the arts becoming too expensive

Afterwards, students asked the Conservative candidate on issues ranging from National Service to employment, Plymouth City Centre, prisons and young offenders.

We would like to thank all the party representatives for attending our event and providing our students with the opportunity to engage with you and hear first hand about your perspectives, policies, and vision for our community and country. For our students, this debate was not only an educational experience but also an inspiration, highlighting the importance of civic engagement and the democratic process.

In the week of the election, members of our Sixth Form will participate in their own election debate on Monday 1^st July where they will put forward the choice people are facing at the next election and take questions from students. Our willing participants are currently absorbing the manifestos of the main political parties and preparing themselves for what should be a lively and engaging debate.

Finally, our students will get the opportunity to cast their vote on Tuesday 2^nd July as to who they believe should lead the country for the next five years with the result being revealed the day before the polls open for real.