MEP visits to increase EU awareness

Students got a chance to quiz North East MEP and Chairman of the European Conservatives Martin Callanan during a visit that saw him discuss the importance of the European Union (EU) to the people of the North East.

Mr Callanan visited students studying A Level Government and Politics to help them gain a greater understanding of the EU, as well as discuss a number of timely issues, including the possibility of increased immigration, the call for changes to the EU treaty to protect the banking sector, and the UK’s EU membership.

The visit was part of efforts by Newcastle Sixth Form College to increase political engagement among young people and to help create active citizens within the local community.

The visit comes as the issue of the UK’s membership of the EU is being hotly debated, with the Conservatives ready to publish a draft parliamentary bill for an in-out referendum.

Mr Callanan said: “I really enjoyed visiting the politics students at Newcastle Sixth Form College. The European Parliament can seem a distant and daunting prospect, but the fact is that it affects all our lives and plays an integral part in the decisions that are made in Whitehall. The visit was a great opportunity to discuss many of the issues facing the EU as well as increase awareness among our young people.” 

Born in Newcastle, Mr Callanan started his political career in 1983 by becoming a Conservative Councillor for Tyne and Wear County Council. He later worked as a Project Engineer at Scottish and Newcastle Breweries from 1986 to 1998 before being elected to the European Parliament.

The Conservative MEP was the latest local politician to have visited Newcastle Sixth Form College, with others including Minister for Skills, Matt Hancock MP, Shadow Minister Stella Creasy and MP for Newcastle North Catherine McKinnell.

One student that gained a lot from Mr Callanan’s visit was A Level Politics student Joe Bowyer. He said: “It was great to be able to speak with a working MEP, especially as a lot of political debate at the moment is about the UK’s role in the EU. Visits like this really bring to life what we have learned in the classroom.”

Mark McNally, Government and Politics Lecturer at Newcastle Sixth Form College, said: “Mr Callanan’s visit comes at a time when the European Union is in sharp focus. There’s a huge amount of debating going on at the moment so it was a great chance for our students to get involved and increase their knowledge and political awareness as they approach their exams.”