An Afternoon of Political Insight with MP Emma Reynolds
12 February 2026 - All
On Friday 6 February, the Sixth Form had the pleasure of welcoming Wycombe Labour MP Emma Reynolds for an engaging talk about her career and work within both European and UK political institutions.
Politics pupils, Zara and Eva, shared what they took from Ms Reynolds’ visit:
‘While Ms Reynolds is currently the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, her presentation also focused on her earlier experience working within the EU system and the insights she gained from operating at an international level.
She spoke about the structure of EU governance, the importance of negotiation and consensus‑building, and the challenges of representing national interests within a supranational framework. We were particularly interested in her reflections on political participation among young people. One interesting thing we noted was that she emphasised that young people should have been able to vote in the Brexit referendum, given the long‑term impact of the decision on their futures.
In addition to discussing her EU work, Ms Reynolds outlined her extensive parliamentary career, including her time representing Wolverhampton North East (2010–2019), her roles in the Shadow Cabinet, and her service on committees such as the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Health and Social Care Committee, and the Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union. She also briefly touched on her more recent ministerial responsibilities within HM Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions.
After the talk, Ms Reynolds and two members of her team generously stayed for an extended conversation in Fisher Library. This informal session allowed Politics students to ask more detailed questions about political careers, policy development, and the realities of working within both UK and EU institutions. Their willingness to give up so much of their time created a warm and open atmosphere, and many of us left with a clearer understanding of the complexity and importance of political work at every level.
We are extremely grateful to Ms Reynolds and her staff for visiting us and sharing their experience so generously. It was an informative and inspiring afternoon not only for all of us studying Politics, but also anyone interested in how our society functions.’
Zara and Eva
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