Winstanley College hosts Makerfield by-election hustings

Winstanley College welcomed candidates, members of the local community and students to the College Theatre on Wednesday, 10 June for the Makerfield by-election hustings, organised and hosted by the Manchester Evening News.

The event provided an important opportunity for local residents to hear directly from candidates standing in the by-election and to engage with key issues affecting the constituency. Candidates representing Labour, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the Conservatives and two Independent candidates took part in the discussion, answering questions on topics including immigration, the cost of living, opportunities for young people, the NHS and the local economy.

The hustings was chaired by Manchester Evening News Editor Sarah Lester and attended by members of the public, local stakeholders, governors, school leaders and Winstanley College students. Students played an active role in the event, with several selected to ask questions directly to the candidates, Winstanley T-Level Media students filmed and produced the official footage shared on the MEN YouTube channel (Manchester Evening News - YouTube)  and 130 student packed the audience.

The event formed part of the College's commitment to promoting the British Values of democracy, mutual respect and tolerance. By providing students with the opportunity to engage with political representatives and observe the democratic process in action, the hustings offered a valuable educational experience ahead of the forthcoming by-election.

Simon Lett, Principal of Winstanley College, said:

"The Makerfield by-election is an important moment for our local community and I was delighted that Winstanley College could play a role in supporting democratic engagement. Our students benefited greatly from hearing a range of political perspectives and seeing first-hand how candidates respond to issues that matter to local people. We are grateful to the Manchester Evening News for choosing to host this event at the College."

Stephen Brockley, Director of External Relations, added:

"One of the key aims of the event was to give young people the opportunity to engage with local politics in a meaningful way. The students represented the College exceptionally well and demonstrated genuine interest in the issues affecting their communities. We are grateful to the Manchester Evening News, the candidates, our guests and the staff who worked hard behind the scenes to make the event such a success. We are particularly proud of how are students engaged with the discussion and the Winstanley TV students, who filmed the event."

Winstanley College would like to thank the Manchester Evening News, all of the candidates, members of the public, governors, school leaders and College staff who contributed to the event.

As an educational institution, Winstanley College remains politically impartial and encourages all eligible voters to engage with the democratic process and exercise their right to vote.