Youngsters grill Corbyn on school trip to capital

MP Jim McMahon (back left) with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (front right) and pupils from Whitegate End Primary School

ORDER was most definitely in the house for students from Whitegate End Primary who took part in a surprise 20 minute question and answer session with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a school trip to London last Thursday.

A total of 11 youngsters from the school council travelled to the capital to enjoy a tour of Parliament and take part in the People's Parliament workshop, which explores how members of the public have made an impact on Parliament.

Debates

While there, Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon met with the Chadderton school and took them on a special tour of the Houses of Parliament, where students stood next to the Speaker's chair and the children got to stand where the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition stand at the despatch boxes during debates.

And the pupils were stunned to find out that Jeremy Corbyn had invited them to the Shadow Cabinet room for a chat about their school council, how democracy was used to make decisions at the school and for a quick photo on his private balcony.

Joanne Draper, school business manager and school council coordinator, said: "We had just missed meeting Jeremy Corbyn earlier, so when we were told that he would like to invite us to the Shadow Cabinet room, that was a total surprise.

"He was really interested in the school council and asked them how it worked, and said Whitegate End School sounded like a great place to be.

"The children were not phased at all, they went round calling the two MPs Jim and Jeremy and were happy to chat to them about politics.

"One pupil told Mr McMahon that she now wanted to become Prime Minister and asked him how she could achieve it!

"The visit was great and Mr Corbyn was really welcoming.

"It has made the children much more interested in politics and they have written to Mr Corbyn inviting him for a tour of the school the next time he visits Oldham."

During the visit, the children also visited a number of London landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and the Cenotaph.