Yesterday your newly elected Exec Officers met with the re-elected MP for Huddersfield Barry Sheerman to discuss the issues important to students in his constituency. 

At the meeting your officers asked Barry about opportunities for the Union to form partnerships and improve our work in the local community, the cuts to student grants announced by Government, the prospect of voting from the age of 16, electoral registration, and more.

Following our work engaging students in the General Election your officers had a strong platform to hold the elected candidates to account on the promises they made to students.

At the candidates question time event in April, Barry ensured students he would support Huddersfield SU in campaigning against the move from block voter registration of Halls of Residences to individual electoral registration.

This change at the last election left the Union having to campaign hard to get students to register themselves, and whilst successful in registering thousands of students, some found themselves unable to cast their vote in May.

At the meeting Barry ensured he would support the Union in getting an Early Day Motion tabled in Parliament. We will now be working with him to get the required support from other MPs to secure a debate on the matter.

The Exec officers also spoke to Barry and talks will continue about the major role students and the Union can play in ‘Huddersfield 2020’ – the strategy to rejuvenate and improve Huddersfield.

Lastly, Barry shared the view of the Officers and backed the ‘Cut the Costs’ campaign being ran by NUS and the Students’ Union to  save financial support for the poorest students and campaign for the return of maintenance grants.

He has promised to work with the officers going forward tackling this and other changes to higher education we think will have a negative impact on current and future Huddersfield students. We will continue to fight these unfair cuts so keep an eye out!

The officers agreed with Barry Sheerman to meet regularly over the year and keep debating the important issues with students.

If you have something you would like us to discuss with Huddersfield’s Member of Parliament then e-mail Mike McGougan, the Students’ Union President at su.president@hud.ac.uk.