MP tells of route into Parliament

STUDENTS at The Henley College attended a presentation by Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo.

He told about his journey from Conservative Party intern to Liberal Democrat MP, the people who inspired him to enter public service, how he overcame his lifelong fear of public speaking and the realities of representing his constituents in Parliament.

In the question and answer session, students asked about life in Westminster, the issues that matter most to young people, such as sustainability, immigration and human rights and global challenges.

Freddie shared that politics is so much more than how it’s portrayed in the media, offering students a glimpse into the collaborative nature of government and the inner workings of the chamber.

Eleanor Witcher, Aspire lead at the college, said: “Hearing about Freddie’s passion for serving our community gave students a real sense of what a career in politics can look like.

“It was an inspiring and engaging session with plenty of thought-provoking questions from our students. The Aspire programme is all about aiming high to achieve more, regardless of your starting point, a cause that Freddie was keen to lend his time and support to.”