Seniors and Sixth Form
MP Visit to NSB
By James, Year 12.
On Friday the 26th March, those studying A Level Politics and other interested students got the unique experience of our own private Question Time with Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell. We had the opportunity to ask the Labour MP questions on issues studied as part of the A Level syllabus as well as issues of current affairs such as Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and the EU referendum.
After a brief explanation of how she got into politics, volunteering for a campaign to introduce fair trade coffee in her university coffee shop, the Member of Parliament asked if we had any questions, adding she hoped they weren’t “like anything on Question Time”. Year 12 student, Tom W, quickly began with the question “What were your political reasons for resigning as shadow Attorney General and do you think the Labour party has lost its focus, through in-fighting, instead of challenging the Tories?”
This tough line of questioning continued on issues studied in Politics, such as English Votes for English Laws and the role of backbencher MP, along with more topical subjects such as the low turnout of young voters in the General Election and the role of women in politics. Of particular interest was when we were asked if we had a vote on the EU and those who did stated their voting intentions and opinion. Mrs McKinnell then gave her case for staying in the EU (pointing to the large amounts of EU funding the North receives) and asked boys who were for leaving the EU their reasons for supporting Brexit.
The session finished with a Paxman style exchange from Year 11 student, Brynn W, who asked whether the Labour MP supported Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party. When she replied that she supported him as he had been elected to the position there was a quick response asking whether she would feel the same if he hadn’t been elected. Mrs McKinnell said that she couldn’t entertain hypotheticals and we were left to draw our own conclusions.
Overall, the visit was a great experience for the students at both gaining valuable insights into the subjects they were studying and for seeing the theory in actions. Boys could be overheard discussing her answers to their questions for much of the rest of the day. We were all very appreciative of the MP for coming in to see us and Mr. Brash for organising it.