I am constantly inspired by the ambition, curiosity and resilience of the young people from across our community.
That was brought home to me again during my recent visit to Arden Academy as part of their Democracy Week.
It was a pleasure to speak with students about careers in politics and public life, and to see such a strong turnout for the Arden Futures session. The questions were thoughtful, the engagement was genuine, and the enthusiasm for shaping the future was unmistakable. I shared my own journey, from accountancy into Parliament, and emphasised that there is no single path into politics. What matters is a willingness to step forward, get involved, and make a difference.
Encounters like these reinforce something I strongly believe: our young people are full of potential, but they need the right support and opportunities to thrive. That is why delivering a new deal for young people must remain a central priority.
A key part of that is making higher education fairer and more sustainable. Last week, Conservative MPs voted to cut real interest rates on student loans, an important and practical step that would ease the burden on graduates. At present, many borrowers on Plan 2 loans face interest rates linked to inflation plus up to three per cent , meaning debts can grow rapidly even while repayments are being made.
The Conservative approach is clear: reduce those real interest rates so that graduates repay what they borrowed in a fairer, more predictable way, rather than seeing their debt spiral. This builds on wider reforms already introduced, including lowering repayment thresholds and extending repayment periods to ensure the system is financially sustainable while reducing the long-term cost to taxpayers.
At a time when young people are facing rising living costs and economic uncertainty, cutting interest rates would provide meaningful relief. It would help restore confidence that higher education remains a worthwhile investment, not a financial weight that becomes harder to carry over time.
Disappointingly, the government opposed our plan. I believe that is the wrong choice. Students and graduates deserve a system that is transparent, balanced and supportive.
From the classroom to the workplace, our responsibility is to back young people at every stage. Whether through improving access to careers guidance, encouraging engagement with democracy, or reforming student finance, we must ensure they are equipped not just to succeed, but to lead.
The young people of Meriden and Solihull East have enormous promise. My job, and our shared mission, is to help them realise it.
