Four election candidates were grilled by college students at an event aimed at encouraging young people to get invloved in pollitics.

Operation Black Vote took its orange bus to Waltham Forest College in Forest Road and more than 200 students took the opportunity to regisiter to vote.

The organisation campaigns to get more young people from ethnic miniroties to take part in elections.

Walthamstow candidates Michael Gold of the Green Party, Liberal Democrat Steven Cheung, Nancy Taaffe of Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, and Conservative Molly Samuel-Leport were questioned on the day.

Bilal Mahmood, the Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, also attended.

The candidates were questioned in a range of issues, including tuition fees and youth unemployment last week.

 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Waltham Forest College principal Penny Wycherley with butchers on the OBV bus at the Forest Road college

Sumra, 19, will be voting in a general Election for the first time.

She said: "It is very important for us to use our votes.

"I am thinking of voting Labour but I haven't quite made up my mind yet.

"I came here to listen to all the candidates to help me make my decision."

Operation Black Vote director Simon Woolley said: "Our visit here has been one of the biggest successes of our tour.

"This is about empowering communities and challenging inequalities.”