LESSONS taken from this year's snap election will be debated by the Stroud MP when he becomes the first speaker at a new cafe which is launching in Dursley on Sunday.

David Drew will also explore the youth vote and faith and leadership at the first ever Soul Café on Sunday.

Organised by Dursley Tabernacle, the café, which is a space for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s to eat simply and cheaply and meet friends on a Sunday evening will feature regular speakers on a range of topics.

Initially planned to be held monthly at the Vibe, the Soul Café is the brainchild of members of the church who felt there were few opportunities for younger people to come together in a relaxed atmosphere to debate and reflect.

Following a time to eat and drink and a short video presentation on Sunday, Mr Drew will speak on topics including the perception and motivation of MPs, the impact of Jo Cox’s murder and his own Christian faith, before taking questions.

He said: “I was delighted to be asked to speak at the first ever Soul Café.

"It is an opportunity to step back from the day to day detail of being an MP and to share some thoughts on wider issues.

“It has been a memorable couple of years in politics with the world feeling quite a different place to the climate we knew prior to Jo Cox’s death and the EU referendum.

"Tim Farron’s resignation and statement that he felt his personal faith was incompatible with being leader of the Lib Dems throws up some very interesting questions and I look forward to reflecting on all these issues and also hearing views from the floor.

“I am fully supportive of the Tab for providing this new space for younger people, I look forward to seeing how it develops.”

The second Soul Café will be held on November 19 when BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter Richard Atkins will talk about his experience as a Christian in the media and his struggle with ME.

Soul Café team member Clare Nutbrown said: “There’s something of a common perception that Millennials are so self-serving and hooked on quick gratification that they are disinterested in the bigger questions that affect us all as communities and individuals.

“But you can also argue that we have become a society where it is harder to step back and ask questions about where we come from, what we believe in, what community is and where we are going.

“We wanted to create a place with no agenda where these questions can be looked at in a relaxed, no pressure kind of way.

"We will touch on a Christian perspective and have guests who bring their own views. Everyone is warmly welcome.

Soul Café will open its doors at 8pm and close at around 9.30pm. Food for the first event will be Indian-themed.