Election candidates for Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Ipswich, Central and South Suffolk quizzed by students

Suffolk students were given an opportunity to quiz their local parliamentary candidates during two hustings events.

Candidates standing in the Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket constituency came to Abbeygate Sixth Form’s theatre to address an audience of students from the college as well as West Suffolk College and King Edward VI School.

The eight candidates included Peter Prinsley (Labour), Will Tanner (Conservative), Emma Buckmaster (Green), Peter McDonald (Liberal Democrats), Scott Hussey (Reform UK), Jeremy Lee (Independent), Darren Turner (Communist Party) and Richard Baker-Howard (Rejoin EU).

Students had prepared a series of questions covering a range of topics including climate change, the NHS and the national service proposal.

Elliot Wright, history and politics teacher at Abbeygate Sixth Form, said: “Many of the students across the college have an active interest in politics and were all keen to know what the parties stand for.

“The main purpose of the event was to inform our students, but also to give them a voice and an opportunity to share their concerns and queries about their future.”

Politics student Redford Lorking, 17, from Bury, said: “I think a lot of the problem is with the voting system.

“Because it’s first past the post, it’s almost guaranteed that one of the two major parties will win the vote - so a lot of young people don’t feel represented.”

The second husting was held at One Sixth Form College in Ipswich which saw more than 200 people in attendance to ask their questions.

The panel was made up of candidates from across Ipswich, Central and South Suffolk including Daniel Pratt (Green Party), Adria Pittock (Green), Jack Abbott (Labour), James Sandbach (Lib Dem), James Cartlidge (Conservative) and Tony Gould (Reform UK).

Rob Pollard, head of English at the college, said: “It is vital that young people are given the opportunity to connect with local and national politics and take part in debates that will affect their future.”

Cathy Durrant, head of pastoral support at Eastern Education Group, said: “It’s really important to get our students enthusiastic about the process and to see it first-hand so they can get an appetite for what they could do in the future.”