News Politics Society: An Insight into Parliament and Public Service with Andy Slaughter MP 05.06.2026

On Friday 5 June, we were delighted to welcome our local MP, Andy Slaughter, to speak to members of the Politics Society. Having served as a Member of Parliament since 2005, and previously as a local councillor, Andy was able to provide valuable insights into the different responsibilities of these roles. He also explained why constituency boundaries are periodically changed and discussed the key priorities and challenges facing a local MP.

Students were particularly interested to hear Andy’s reflections on recent developments within the Labour Party and the implications of the latest local election results. He spoke warmly of Old Dolphin Molly Mantle (Class of 2019), who was recently elected as a Labour councillor in Hammersmith. Having just returned from campaigning in Makerfield, Andy also discussed the challenges currently facing the Prime Minister, the impact of the large number of newly elected Labour MPs – many representing constituencies with relatively small majorities – and the growing influence of populist politics across the political spectrum. Students were pleased to learn that Andy supports extending the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds.

As Chair of the Justice Committee, Andy also provided a fascinating insight into the work of Select Committees. He explained how these cross-party bodies scrutinise government policy and seek to influence decision-making through detailed investigations and reports.

The question-and-answer session that followed demonstrated the enthusiasm and engagement of our students, who posed a range of thoughtful and perceptive questions. It was particularly pleasing to see students from across the year-groups in attendance, alongside our Sixth Form Politics students.

We are very grateful to Andy Slaughter for giving his time and for sharing such an informative and engaging perspective on contemporary politics and public service.