Former Big Brother contestant, journalist academic and businessman, Derek Laud has joined the General Election campaign on the Island.
Derek Laud has been campaigning in East Wight with Conservative MP hopeful Joe Robertson, and meeting with young Islanders. The former political speechwriter was seen leafleting and campaigning in Shanklin’s Regent Street and Ryde High Street last weekend.
Mr Laud is Chairman of the Foundation Board of Lucy Cavendish College at the University of Cambridge and Pro Chancellor at London South Bank University and visiting Professor in the School of Law and Social Sciences. During his time on the Island he met with a group of young people over lunch to discuss improving further education opportunities on the Island.
Joe Robertson said, “I was pleased to be able to introduce Derek to a group of young Islanders to discuss further education. I want to see degree-level courses taught here on the Island. A good way to achieve this would be through a partnership between the Isle of Wight College and nearby universities like Portsmouth or Winchester. I want to see more opportunities available to young Islanders but also encourage others to come to the Island as a place for education and future careers. We need to be able to offer residential student accommodation to make the Island a realistic alternative option to the mainland.
Thomas Sheath who went to school at Christ The King and has just finished a degree in Psychology at Winchester University added, “It was really good to meet Derek Laud. I chose to study at Winchester because it is close to home but if my course had been available on the Island I would have been able to study here rather than commute. If young people don’t have more opportunities on the Island they will move away and the Island will miss out.”
Derek Laud also visited Nunwell House open gardens in aid of the Brading Church Bells and talked about issues as diverse as gardening, volunteering and
