HUSTINGS at SGS College Stroud took place on Monday afternoon to give students and staff a chance to quiz the election candidates.

With a little over two weeks until the nation goes to the polls in the General Election, the parliamentary candidates hoping to become the next MP for Stroud took part in the event.

Answering questions on a number of issues put forward by both students and staff, topics included fox hunting, concerns over the NHS, and student housing.

Not only was it a chance for the candidates to try and gain support from young voters, but it gave the students at the college an opportunity to engage with politicians on matters that concern them the most.

A student said after the event: “I think it’s great they came in to answer our questions.

“For first-time voters like myself, who maybe aren’t sure who to vote for, it helps me get an idea of who will represent me the best.”

Ian Scrannage, lecturer at SGS Stroud said: “Events like this are important for young people, and it would be great if we could hold regular debates at the College for students to engage with local politicians throughout the year as new issues and policies that affect them arise.”

The hustings follows on from SGS Stroud’s push to encourage its students to register to vote, and it’s hoped debates such as this will inspire students to become more engaged with local and national issues that affect them.

A hustings for 18 to 25 year olds will be taking place on Friday from 7pm at The Lansdown Hall.

Organiser of Friday’s youth hustings Barrie Voyce, from The Door, told the SNJ why it is so important to have hustings aimed at younger voters: “They are important because giving young voters direct access to the candidates will enable them to ask the questions pertinent to them, encouraging them to engage in the process and election.

“As you know the statistics around young voter turnout are always low, so we are trying to encourage young people to see the election as relevant to their lives and that their vote is important.