Hampton School Politics Radio recently interviewed the now re-elected Member of Parliament. Here’s what he had to say about Britain’s most vital issues Tory policy, and Brexit

Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative MP for Richmond Park, recently took questions from pupils at Hampton School, an independent school near his constituency. Asked what he thought was the most important issue facing Britain today, he did not hesitate: “Everything is influenced by Brexit; from local to international. Everything is shaped by the quality of the handling of Brexit.” Goldsmith’s position on Brexit as a strong Brexit advocate is somewhat controversial. Even the UK Independence Party (UKIP) has endorsed him in the past. Yet, 62.3% of Goldsmith’s constituents voted Remain in 2016. When asked about his Brexit vote, he said “I was not 100%, I could see it both ways. I could have easily ended up voting the other way. Unfortunately, I don’t think the European Union is capable of reform. I voted not as an MP, but rather a citizen and a constituent.”

While Brexit may be controversial, Goldsmith was on safer ground citing housing as another big concern close to the hearts of many. “[It’s] the biggest challenge we have in terms of the direct and immediate impact on people’s lives”, he said. Goldsmith highlighted the magnitude of the issue by explaining that “you could be living in London, earning three times the average London salary and you would still have no chance of buying a home without aid from your parents.” Goldsmith added that “Homeownership has always been a big part of this country. I believe that we are on the edge of a housing crisis and if we don’t deal with it, it may have huge repercussions. If you want me to pick one issue among millions of issues, that has to be a top priority.”

By Ben Green, Hampton School