Lib Dem MP Addresses Key Issues with Politics Students

On Friday 28 March, the Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham, Munira Wilson, visited the College to give a talk about her experiences in politics. She spoke about her own practical knowledge as a Member of Parliament and the broader position of her party in the current political climate of the UK and globally. As first-year Politics A Level students, her discussion complemented our studies by providing insights into the actions she and her party have made that contextualised some of the topics we have learnt about in class. After addressing and explaining the current situation of the Liberal Democrats and her role in the party, she moved on to answering the many questions from students in the audience.

As the Lib Dem Education Spokesperson, Wilson expressed her support for investment into education and mental health services that related to us as students. She answered a question from a student who dealt with a challenging personal experience about unequal access to education for the disabled, and Wilson explained her disappointment with the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s recent budget announcement in relation to funding the appropriate education services. She further spelt out the pain that both small-scale employers and people on welfare will experience from the budget, and how a capital gains tax would be far more effective for the economy and wealth distribution than a simple wealth tax. On other economic matters, she answered questions on both her opposition to a third runway for Heathrow airport, and her support for construction of the HS2 railway, particularly interesting for the many Politics students who share a passion for environmental issues in local politics.

Wilson also thoroughly discussed her direct experience during the debating and voting on the 2024 Assisted Dying Bill, the many challenges she faced representing her constituents, and making a particularly challenging moral decision. In November of last year, the Politics Department was lucky enough to visit Westminster during the debating process on the bill and witness the House of Commons in action. Hearing Wilson’s fascinating first-person perspective as an MP during such a monumental debate greatly expanded the dimension of my experience witnessing the bill go through the legislative process, and its deep social implications for the whole country.

In a broader sense, Wilson discussed the national picture of UK politics and the unique place of the Liberal Democrats in the 2024 general election in relation to the other parties. She mentioned the Lib Dem’s beliefs in the many cons of the UK’s flawed electoral system, a specific topic we have studied in class. She also explained the Lib Dem’s slightly prouder aspirations for cooperation with the European Union, a necessary step in securing the UK’s place on the future world stage, mentioning specific trade problems caused by disastrous Brexit-related deals. Also discussing the foreign policy topics currently on the political agenda, Wilson talked about the UK’s strategic interests in the context of the ongoing Ukraine War, and the moral duties of the UK in the Israel-Palestine conflict. She also mentioned the elephant in the room of foreign policy – Donald Trump – calling out his unreliable behaviour and the Labour government’s attempts to bend over backwards to appease him; all relevant to our second-year topic of international politics.

Overall, Munira Wilson’s talk on Friday was a highly relevant asset to my understanding of many of the topics we study in A Level politics. She covered a wide range of subjects that enhanced our studies by letting us see what we learn in textbooks in the context of real and recent political issues. I am grateful to have received the opportunity to hear directly from an experienced Member of Parliament about political topics that interested me personally and related to everyone who attended as young college students.