Matt Rodda, MP for Reading East, visited the University of Reading to discuss the last General Election which resulted in his election, as well as talking about breaking the barriers between the study of politics and its everyday practice.

The audience, comprising a selection of third-year undergraduates and Masters postgraduates was facilitated by Dr Mark Chapman, the Director of Teaching and Learning at the University’s Department of Politics and International Relations.

Following Matt’s brief talk, students were invited to take part in an open Q&A session. Amongst the variety of questions posed to Matt were whether Parliament could be more inclusive for the disabled, gender equality in politics, the effect of the student vote in Reading East, Brexit and the issue of student accommodation costs in areas with a higher cost of living.

Matt said:
“I want to thank the University for their kind invitation for me to talk to students. It is important that young people get involved in politics and I believe that students have been given a raw deal over the past eight years under the Lib DemConservative Coalition Government – and more recently the Conservatives with the tripling of tuition fees and the scrapping of grants.

“I shall continue to work hard to fight against the escalating costs experienced by students in higher education, and ensure that their voices are represented in Parliament.”