School’s out for the Summer! I am back home in Tatton and looking forward to a packed diary of events across the constituency throughout August.
But before that I faced one final challenge in Westminster - in the form of no holds barred questioning from Tatton pupils. The summer term is always a busy time for students visits to the Houses of Parliament and it’s always a highlight in my diary.
My last visit of the summer was from Handforth Grange Primary School and sixth formers from Wilmslow High School. As always, the pupils didn’t disappoint and like other schools across the constituency that have visited, they don’t hold back!
As part of the visit, Wilmslow High School ran mock elections where a handful of the students chose a ‘party’ and set out their pitches and proposed policy ideas to try and secure votes from their peers. Then the pupils turned their questions on me! Topics ranged from immigration, security of MPs, the Reform Party and other party politics, the electoral system in the UK and first past the post, as well as questions on newly elected Labour MP and now Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
For the younger ones, the topics, while different, were no less thoughtful. I met them in Westminster Hall and they wanted to know what my favourite thing about my job, what inspired me to become an MP, what I did before politics, as well as questions about the history of the building. They then went for a tour of Parliament and got to sit in the Public Gallery and experience what it’s like to be in the Chamber while MPs debate the legislation of the day. The teachers told me a great time was had by all, and for me it is a privilege to be able to give the children and young people that experience.
I won’t have long to wait until I’m back ‘in the classroom’, as next week I’m running a week-long summer school for Tatton pupils who have got in touch telling me they are interested in a career in politics. I’m really looking forward to it and have a great week planned for them.
