On Friday 6 February, our A-level politics students were fortunate to have a visit from local MP, Mr Freddie van Mierlo, of the Liberal Democrat Party. The following comes courtesy of Year 13 pupil Alfie Malcolm.
‘During his visit, Mr van Mierlo discussed his day-to-day life as an MP as well as the various issues he is addressing within the local area, such as water quality - a topic that is particularly important to Shiplake College. He also spoke about the challenges he faced in becoming the first non-Conservative MP in Henley and Thame for over 100 years.
Mr van Mierlo answered some tough questions from students, including “Why should I vote for the Liberal Democrats?” and “What are your thoughts on MPs having second jobs?”. Throughout the session, he provided thoughtful responses and highlighted key areas he is passionate about as an MP, such as improving paternity care for parents and implementing stricter regulations on water quality.
This was an amazing experience for the students, as it gave them a real insight into the role of a politician, the mechanisms involved, and how they work towards achieving their goals. Mr van Mierlo also shared the barriers he faces in his role, such as voting along party lines while ensuring he does right by his constituents, and how he manages to balance these competing demands.
It was a truly insightful experience, and we would all like to thank Mr van Mierlo for taking the time to visit.’
Lead for Politics, Miss Lane, adds:
‘It was fantastic that Mr van Mierlo took time out of his busy schedule to visit Shiplake College and to have spoken to the A-level politics students about what it’s like to be an MP and what he has been doing since the historic election for the Henley and Thames constituency. Hearing firsthand about the government bodies and structures we have been studying will have been incredibly valuable and engaging for them.’