Our Year 12 politics students thoroughly enjoyed their trip to London, visiting the Houses of Parliament, the Supreme Court and 10 Downing Street.  We began the day by meeting the Altrincham and Sale West MP Connor Rand and journalist for the House Magazine and Politics Home, and former Wellington student, Tom Scotson. After Rand gave a brief introduction on his role as an MP, he opened up the floor to questions from the students. He was grilled comprehensively with multiple questions, and follow ups, including Sufyaan’s forensic questioning on the government’s response to Gaza, Oscar Charnley’s on the cost of living, and a potential wealth tax and Anas’s on the government’s handling of migration.

 

During our tour of parliament, students impressed the tour guide with their comprehensive knowledge on the composition of the House of Commons and House of Lords as well as the legislative process by which a bill becomes a law. The students were privileged enough to spend time in the House of Commons and House of Lords Public Galleries before completing a workshop in groups, in which they created their own political parties and outlined various policies they would implement. Joe Shield dazzled in particular with a magnificent manifesto launch.

 

During their traverses through the corridors and halls of Westminster, students encountered MPs such as Lee Anderson, and just outside parliament, Jeremy Corbyn. In the afternoon, students crossed Parliament Square to pay a visit to the UK Supreme Court. Students heard a mock case, deliberating and passing judgement on R v Jogee (2016), a criminal case which altered interpretations of Joint Enterprise. This mock case was pleasantly interrupted by Supreme Court President Lord Reed, who was signing in Anthony Smellie for his role in the Privy Council. An action-packed day was rounded off with a visit to Downing Street, accompanied by Connor Rand. A staffer at number 10 gave the students a brief summary of the operations at Downing Street before we gathered for a photo in front of the famous no.10 front door.