This week, I am opening applications for a Summer School later in the year.  

Being in the younger cohort of Members of Parliament myself, this has always been a cause close to my heart – not least because of repeated questions about my own age when I entered Parliament (pre-beard, of course). 

I know that many young people feel like politics is not for them, for a variety of reasons – maybe they feel ignored, let down or even just left out of the conversation altogether. As an elected representative, it is my job to make sure that changes, at least for those in Crewe and Nantwich.  

Having visited many schools and colleges since my election, some of the most original ideas have come from students I’ve spoken to. The younger generation receives a lot of negative press – typically on them supposedly engaging in anti-social behaviour or wasting all their money on avocado toast. However, in my experience, many of them want to make a positive contribution to the world, if they felt they had the chance.  

To unlock that potential, we have to create an environment where young people know that they are valued across the board; through their time in education and after. That is why Labour’s plan to onboard 6,500 new teachers by introducing VAT on private school fees is so important. It’s why the government’s growth and skills levy encouraging businesses to prioritise investment in apprenticeships is essential.  

And that’s also why I have decided to start a Summer School: too often, politics can feel like a lot of smoke and mirrors. By opening up my office to the next generation of campaigners and communicators, I hope that I can show them a small part of politics that is fighting to make a difference, for them as well as everyone else. 

It is clear that many young people are still reeling from the effects of the previous government. On average, a student who started school in 2010 will have lost out on £5,384 of funded education and support due to Tory budget cuts. That’s not something we should pretend we can reverse straight away. 

That being said, I hope the changes we’ve been able to make so far are a step in the right direction and prove that the Labour Party does care about young people. If any young person reading this thinks otherwise – I urge you to join a local campaign group and make your voice heard!