CAMPAIGNERS gave councillors a grilling last night over the future of adult education in Tower Hamlets. Around 50 teachers, lecturers and students from across the borough gathered at the London Muslim Centre on Thursday night to put their questions to c

CAMPAIGNERS gave councillors a grilling last night over the future of adult education in Tower Hamlets.

Around 50 teachers, lecturers and students from across the borough gathered at the London Muslim Centre on Thursday night to put their questions to councillors following last year's cuts to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes.

And fears were raised that the borough could be facing more cutbacks this year following a government spending squeeze on adult learning.

On the panel was Tory MP hopeful for Poplar and Limehouse Tim Archer, Lib Dem council leader Stephanie Eaton, Green parliamentary candidate Farid Bakht and ESOL Researcher at King's College, Melanie Cooke.

Respect's Abjol Miah was replaced at the last minute by his campaign agent George Woods and a representative from the ruling labour party failed to show up after parliamentary candidate Rushanara Ali was unable to attend.

The panel spoke out against the cuts which saw nearly a third of ESOL classes provided by Tower Hamlets College slashed because of a reduction in government funding.

And they pledged their support to members of the University and College Union in their fight against any further cuts.