Building relationships with parliamentary candidates ahead of the next election

With a general election due next year, this is an important time to build relationships with future MPs.

We want to ensure that MPs in the next government understand the issues facing the UK ELT sector.

We encourage members to meet their local parliamentary candidates in the coming months, especially if the seat is likely to change. 

Positive meeting with Liberal Democrat candidate for Lewes

Last week, Huan and Sue from our public affairs team had a positive meeting with the Liberal Democrat candidate for Lewes, James McCleary.

Lewes was a Liberal Democrat seat for almost two decades until 2010. They are expected to win the seat back from the Conservatives next year. 

Representatives from two English UK member centres in the constituency, East Sussex College and Bede's Summer School joined the meeting.

James was well-briefed on our sector and worked for a year as an English language teacher in Poland. We talked about visa issues, staff recruitment challenges and the benefits of international students in the UK.

Labour candidate for Exeter is supportive of our asks 

Our membership director Huan met Steve Race, the Labour Party parliamentary candidate for Exeter, on Friday 8 December. Representatives from Star Exeter and Exeter Academy joined them.

Labour currently holds this seat and is expected to keep it, but the current MP Ben Bradshaw is retiring at the next election. 

We talked to Steve about the importance of ELT to the local economy in Devon and we asked for support on some of the key asks in our policy position paper.

Steve Race was highly supportive and agreed to raise our concerns over VAT proposals with the shadow Department for Education team.

Request a meeting with your next MP

One of our priorities ahead of the election is to build new relationships with MPs who will enter parliament for the first time next year.

If you work in a constituency that is likely to change hands, please request a meeting with the candidate on behalf of your language centre. 

Not sure who is likely to win your seat? You can enter your postcode on the Electoral Calculus website to see the current prediction.  

Our public affairs team is happy to give any support you need. If you would like us to draft an email to request a meeting, or you want to chat about key talking points, please email Huan.