Mock election victory for Tories

THE VOTES have been cast and the result of the election is in — as decided by school children.

Pupils at Friezland Primary School held a mock election at the same time as the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election and chose the Conservatives for their MP.

The youngsters held their poll yesterday because the school is shut today as it’s a polling station for the real election.

But if the result is mirrored by the adults tonight it will send shockwaves through Oldham and Westminster — because Labour came last.

Out of 101 votes, the Tories polled 37, the Green Party 28, the Lib-Dems 20 and Labour 15 with one paper spoilt.

All four by-election candidates from those parties attended question and answer sessions in the build-up — Labour’s Debbie Abrahams, Lib-Dem Elwyn Watkins, Tory Kashif Ali and the Green Party’s Peter Allen — along with journalists.

The Greenfield school conducted the poll to teach pupils about democracy and politics and to tie in with the by-election.

Year 5 and 6 classes split into groups representing the four parties, with one person acting as candidate and the others as campaigners. They researched policies and then toured classrooms with posters and badges to tell pupils why they should vote for them.

Staff said the children enjoyed the election and learnt a lot from it.

Teacher Lisa Carter said: “It was absolutely fabulous. All the journalists were impressed with the questions and the understanding the children showed on difficult questions, such as tuition fees and tax.

“The children loved having the candidates in and we thank them for taking part.”