BUSINESS students were left less than convinced by politicians at a hustings event in Banbury and Bicester College.

The event, organised by Banbury Chamber of Commerce, gave its members and college students a chance to quiz politicians before the General Election.

In the hot seat were Banbury prospective parliamentary candidates Victoria Prentis (Conservative), John Howson (Liberal Democrat), Roseanne Edwards (National Health Action Party), and Ian Middleton (Green). Perran Moon, a district council candidate for Hook Norton, stood in for Labour prospective parliamentary candidate Sean Woodcock, who was unavailable.

After Thursday’s debate, student Hugh Leather said he was still undecided about who to vote for: “I will be voting for the first time, and plan to use my vote, but I would benefit from more information about what each party stands for and wants to do.

“I didn’t have a clear idea of who I am going to vote for before today, and I still haven’t made my mind up.”

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Others were more scathing in their views. Millie Proud, aged 17, from Epwell, said: “I was disappointed with the candidates. I would have thought that they would have done their homework on the college and the issues facing young people.

“They referred to us as children or kids, which felt patronising.

“Politicians need to interact more with the people they are meeting with, particularly if they want to engage younger people.

“The availability and cost of public transport are big issues for me together with university tuition fees, and it didn’t feel as though we got good answers on those issues.”

Fellow student Dan Putt, aged 17, from Fringford, said: “The Green Party and Health Action Party were focused on the local community, which connected more with me.

“It was interesting to hear about references to Russell Brand and what he is saying about voting.

“I think people are put off from voting because they don’t have confidence that politicians will do what they say they will do.”

Each representative read a short manifesto before answering questions from the floor.

Banbury Chamber of Commerce chairman Richard Hunter said: “We set it up for our members to ask questions from a business point of view on what they have to offer.

“Now that Tony Baldry is standing down it’s an interesting time for Banbury. It’s not clear as it possibly once was.”

He added: “It was great to have the students involved.

“Lowering the voting age is something worth looking at – if you can get people interested from an early age you are setting things up for the future.”

Mr Hunter said that interesting points during the event were Mr Moon’s assertion that Labour would sign a moratorium on fracking, as well as contributions from the Greens and NHAP.

The Banbury and Bicester College students, aged 17 to 18, are all on the Business Level 3 Extended Diploma at the college.

One asked why, as school leaving age was to increase to 18 for those born after 1997, students’ travel costs were not being paid by the Government.

Mr Middleton and Mr Moon both responded that they were staunch supporters of making it free, while Ms Prentis asked the student to write to David Cameron and said she would look into individual cases.