Earlier today I hosted a coffee morning with Liam Byrne MP, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and over a dozen graduates and final year students at the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

It was a very pleasant discussion in Fallowfield about the action the Government is taking to ensure that graduates have the best possible job opportunities when they leave University. Liam listened with great interest to some of the personal stories and promised that the Government will be taking all measures necessary to ensure graduates can secure full-time employment as quickly as possible.

From a personal perspective I’ve seen for myself the huge contribution that students give to the community in South Manchester and there are thousands of final year students and recent graduates living here worrying about their future.

I am committed to lobbying Liam further and other Government ministers to ensure the concerns of the student community are listened to.