PUPILS visited Basingstoke and Deane Council offices to learn more about the democratic process as part of UK Parliament Week.

UK Parliament Week is an annual event, aiming to connect people in the country with Parliament and democracy.

The children participate in a Question Time segment, as well as having an orchestrated debate on whether school uniforms should be banned.

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A-Level Politics students from Queen Mary’s College were also there, helping the pupils learn how to debate their arguments.

Councillors Abdel Ibrahim, Jacky Tustain, Simon Minas-Bound, Paul Harvey, David Leeks and Gavin James held a panel, along with MP Maria Miller, to answer questions on topics such as smoking, the environment, events, and cycling.

Jackson Lloyd, a pupil at St Mark's school, said: “I think it's a good idea to have this event, it encourages people. You get different opinions; children get different opinions from their parents and might only get half of it otherwise.

“You can hear from the public and the council. I would like to be involved in politics. I want to work for the UN and be a speaker.

“This event is a good idea, not something people would go out and speak about.”

Another from St Marks, Ethan Shenton, said: “I like this event, I've learnt so many things today.”

Basingstoke Gazette: Jackson Lloyd and Ethan Shenton from St Mark's Primary

Pupils from St Annes Primary School also liked the event. Ella Irons-Martin said: “It's given us the chance to express what we think. It's good.”

Remy Suntah said: “It is giving us a chance to say what we think,”

Larry Mudame said: “We can express what we think about the environment, and what is wrong and right in the community.”

Basingstoke Gazette: Larry Mudame, Remy Suntah, Ella Irons-Martin and Miss Dylan from St Annes

Logan Jones, from South View primary school, said the event has given him a "greater confidence to be involved in politics".

He added: “It's very fun and you get to learn a lot of new knowledge.”

Basingstoke Gazette: Logan Jones, a student at South View Primary

The event was organised by a Basingstoke teacher at Park View Primary School and UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador Kate Norman.

Kate has also run sessions for teachers in the area to hold activities for pupils in honour of the week.

MP Maria Miller said: “Democracy Week is designed to help schools engage with us and learn more about the parliamentary process and the democratic process more generally.

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“Here in Basingstoke, we have councillors and me as the MP talking to primary and secondary school children as well as sixth formers about what we do to try and make democracy work for the people of Basingstoke.

“And that means democratically elected people, can speak up on issues and get the change that the community wants.

“What's particularly good about today is the children will be debating themselves so that they will be thinking more about how they must have clear points of view, to learn their point, whichever subject they're talking about.

“It's fantastic that the schools are taking the time to bring their children here."