AROUND 200 people took part in an animated EU referendum debate with Lord Ashdown and MP Jacob Rees Mogg at Richard Huish College, Taunton, last night (Thursday, June 16).
Championing the Remain campaign, Paddy Ashdown, former leader of the LibDems, put his arguments across first, followed by Brexit campaigner Mr Rees-Mogg, Conservative MP for North East Somerset.
They then took pre-prepared questions from the audience followed by spontaneous questions.
The questions included uncertainty about the UK’s future either way, freedom of movement in Europe, the effect of Turkey joining the EU, worker’s rights and the level of scaremongering that has been taking place.
Huish student Beth Hamilton said: “The speakers were animated - Paddy Ashdown was passionate and Jacob Rees Mogg was sharp and incisive.”
The event, organised by the college’s politics society, was chaired by Jack Taylor, with vice-chairman Eloise Chaplin, who kept the debate moving and controlled each side and the audience confidently.
The event was filmed by BTEC creative media students and will be available to watch on the college’s YouTube channel.
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