News

The MP for Guildford and Shadow Health Minister, Anne Milton, visited Kings College on Monday 30th November. In a session with Mat Sawyer’s Politics and Critical Thinking A level students she explained how and why she became an MP and what it involves. She then went on to talk about the roles of government and local government and how they, and politics, affect our lives.

Students were then invited to ask her questions. Initially they seemed a little overwhelmed, but Mrs Milton's enthusiasm for the subject soon had them asking questions and giving their opinions on issues that affect them, such as the minimum driving age (they would like it lowered and were dismayed that moves are afoot to raise it to 18); tuition fees (the feeling was that they could be a reason not to go to university, especially if a student isn't sure what they want to do in the future); the legal drinking age and its enforcement and the leaving age for school (they feel it should be raised so that students have more opportunities through learning when they leave). An area of particular concern was the lack of facilities for teenagers and the image that the media portrays of teens, which then causes people to react to them in a negative way.

The session was a great introduction for the sixth formers as to why politics matters and how it affects us all and to what needs to be considered when policy-making. They all found it really interesting and our thanks go to Mrs Milton for so kindly taking time out of her busy schedule to visit.

Article and picture by Fiona Bangert