Students grill politicians for answers at Royston school

Published: 3:09 PM February 21, 2015 Updated: 3:44 PM November 1, 2020

UKIP Royston town councillor Mark Hughes, Conservative MP for North East Herts Sir Oliver Heald and David Bell representing Labour. - Credit: Archant

Politicians were put through their paces by sixth form students in a question and answer session at Meridian School.

In attendance at the Royston school were Conservative North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald, UKIP Royston town councillor Mark Hughes and David Bell, who was representing the Labour Party.

Students put questions to their representatives on a variety of issues including ethnic and gender equality in government, the EU, cuts to arts funding, tuition fees and international responses to the Ebola crisis.

Year 12 student Lucy Mackintosh said: “The session with the local representatives was thought provoking, informative and humorous.

“As students we experienced first-hand the art of debating but also the meaning behind each party’s policies and the effect of these.”

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Head of sixth form Jess Weatherall said: “It’s so important to engage young people in events like this so that they can become more familiar with the democratic system of the UK, and to help them develop their understanding of what the different parties represent.”