In a speech to Full Council I outlined how back in 2013 I had the privilege of visiting Palestine to shadow my friend Melanie who was doing some amazing work as an international human rights observer in Al Khalil, Hebron as we know it.

As a secondary school teacher, I was keen to see with my own eyes what sorts of obstacles to education children faced. I was welcome into the Qordaba Girls School, which is located just off Shuhada Street in the town.

It was heartbreaking to talk to teachers and young people who must walk though checkpoints daily and have their school bags searched by soldiers. The barriers that young people face getting access to education in Palestine are intolerable.