Follows Spring to college providing space for politicians and commentators to offer views, when teachers are away (6,6)
I believe the answer is:
summer school
'space for politicians and commentators to offer views when teachers are away' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'follows spring to college' is the wordplay.
'follows spring' becomes 'summer' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to college' becomes 'school' (I've seen this before).
'summer'+'school'='SUMMER SCHOOL'
'providing' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for summer school that I've seen before include "might attract holiday students" , "Adding courses" .)