Parliament Week: Batley and Spen MP meets pupils from seven local schools

Students from Batley Girls’ High School, BBG Academy, Spen Valley High School, Whitcliffe Mount and Fairfield School joined fellow pupils at Heckmondwike Grammar School for a wide ranging discussion about how Parliament works and the role of MPs, Peers and Councillors.

The students had the chance to put questions to Kim and to vote on some key questions about democracy in Britain. They were divided over whether 16-year olds should be allowed to vote in parliamentary elections and whether voting should be compulsory.

Earlier, Kim heard from children at Howard Park Community School in Cleckheaton about their recent trip to Westminster and answered their questions about how she does her job.

Kim said: “I love coming into schools and talking about my work and how important democracy is. In my view these things aren’t discussed enough in the classroom because they are not on the curriculum.

“How can we expect young people to grow up to be good citizens if we don’t explain how the system works? So I’m really grateful to all the pupils who came along and to their teachers for arranging my visits.”