SCHOOLCHILDREN put the candidates vying to be Meriden’s next MP through their paces at a hustings event.
Ahead of the voters going to the polls on December 12 four Meriden constituency candidates took part in a debate at St George and St Teresa Catholic Primary School in Bentley Heath.
Labour’s Teresa Beddis, Liberal Democrat Laura McCarthy, Green Party candidate Steve Caudwell and Conservative Saqib Bhatti, who is hoping to retain the seat as Conservative after Dame Caroline Spelman stepped down, took to the podium in front of key stage two children and spoke about what they were standing for, before being grilled by the pupils on Brexit, education, the NHS and the environment.
Nicola Wright, headteacher, said: “The children have been learning about British Values.
“They have been particularly focusing on democracy and what it means to have different views and the freedom to speak.
“One of the virtues that we teach in our Catholic school, is to be discerning – we want the children to know how to make informed choices.
“The staff feel that it is really important that we give our children the cultural capital that they can use to be responsible citizens in the future.
“It is also important that they learn about the process involved in the General Election.”
The school is also holding its own election on December 12 with year six pupils producing their own manifestos and canvassing all the children in key stage 2, to try and drum up as many votes as possible.
Nicola added: “We are so proud of our children and the way that they conducted themselves. They are really excited and cannot wait for the December 12.”
CAPTION: Meriden’s candidates (back row) battling to be the constituency’s next MP were grilled by pupils at St George and St Teresa Catholic Primary School. Picture St George and St Teresa Catholic Primary School.
