AN MP visited students to discuss poverty ahead of the launch of a UK aid taskforce by the Labour Party.

Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods spent time discussing the issue of international aid with students at Durham University.

Dr Blackman-Woods, who is shadow international development minister, was talking to students about where aid should be focussed and how the budget should be spent.

She said: “Labour is about to launch a UK aid taskforce to help us develop our foreign aid policy for the next election.

“We want to speak to young people in particular about where to focus our aid and how the budget should be spent.”

She was at a meeting of the university’s One society, which is an anti-poverty group.

President Barbara Pressendo, 19, who is studying theology, said: “We had a large number of students attend the event and hear more about what we’re campaigning for. It really shows that Durham students are genuinely committed to making a difference, not just through fundraising - but grassroots campaigning.”