Latest news

Year 12 students at Westminster City School had the privilege of meeting former Prime Minister Theresa May at the inaugural Churchill-Attlee Democracy Lecture. She was asked to “flesh out her ideas about the House of Commons in more detail…and shared what she thought about Parliament before entering Number 10 and how her experience at the apex of government has since influenced her thinking about the institution and why and how it must change."

Daniel, who was in attendance at the lecture said:

“Her insights on democracy were both thought-provoking and concerning, particularly regarding the growing disengagement of youth from politics. She emphasised that increased voter turnout amongst young people could lead to a significant shift in manifesto promises and objectives to better address youth concerns.

“I'm currently reading ‘The Abuse of Power by Theresa May’. Even though I'm only halfway through, a message made clear throughout is that being an MP is about service, not power. The book delves into instances of power abuse, such as during the Brexit process. Throughout the lecture, Mrs May acknowledged abuses of power but also cultivated an optimistic outlook for the future with more training for new MPs and greater parliamentary standards.

"Shortly after the lecture, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Theresa May herself. It was an out-of-body experience! I strongly align with many of her policies, including her ambitious net-zero 2050 act, which serves as an inspiration for many Western countries, and so meeting her in person was a momentous experience.

“I want to thank Westminster City School and the Hansard Society for giving me the chance to attend this lecture. It has profoundly stimulated my interest in politics and allowed me to experience what democracy looks like beyond the classroom.”

Photo cred: https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/events/theresa-may