Parliamentary candidates for the Aldershot constituency, standing in the election on 7 May 2015, recently visited the College for a 'Question Time' style event hosted by our Politics department. Students quizzed them about their plans for Aldershot and sought to glean their opinions on a number of topics relevant to young people in the area.

Representatives included Sir Gerald Howarth, (Conservative Party, MP for Aldershot), Gary Puffett (Labour Party), Alan Hilliar (Liberal Democrat Party), Carl Hewitt (Green Party) and William Walker (UKIP).

In a packed Lecture Theatre at the College, students posed questions ranging from discrimination law through to research funding. The event clearly got students thinking as many stayed behind after the debate to discuss the issues with the candidates. The candidates commented that they were impressed with the quality of the student’s questions.

Sir Gerald Howarth, Conservative MP for Aldershot commented, “Great fun, with some good questions.”

Gary Puffett, Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate said, "It was great to hear so many well considered questions and good to see so much enthusiasm for politics, a credit to Farnborough Sixth Form College.”

Bill Walker, UKIP Parliamentary Candidate commented, "The questions were well put by the students. It was great to speak with so many after the event as well.”

Nathan Scott, Government and Politics Curriculum Manager, who hosted the event added, "It is so impressive that our students are able to ask such well-considered and thought provoking questions. Several of the candidates commented on the standard of the students' ideas and comments."

Victoria Gosling, first year student explained how it was good to hear the candidates defend their views and opinions, away from Westminster - "It was really interesting to hear their opinions on how religion impacts on politics".

Prior to the question and answer session with the Parliamentary candidates, students hoping to secure votes to become the next President of the College Student Association held their own event, to answer questions about their election campaigns. After the debate, candidates for the two elections took a photo call together.

Charlie Crumpton, who is standing for Student Association President at the College said, “The presidential debate is a valuable way to get across the views of each of the candidates in the right environment. The questions asked were very effective in allowing each of us the opportunity to show what we believe and for the electorate to make their informed decisions.”

Christine Eustace, Director of Community Engagement at the College said, “Holding our annual Student Association Presidential Debate on the same day as the local Parliamentary Candidates visited the College, proved to be extremely interesting. I was fascinated to see how a lot of the questions asked at each event were similar in nature, voicing our students' concerns about the community they live in.”