Grey Coat Issue 10: February 2011 Question time at Europe House


On Friday, 17th December, a Question Time event was held at Europe House, the new joint EU office for the European Commission and European Parliament in the UK. Some 150 sixthformers from Leicester and Croydon as well as from Pimlico Academy , Westminster City School and Grey Coat attended this. Students were given the opportunity to question a number of MEPs, including the Westminster Liberal Democrat representative, Sarah Ludford. In the chair Channel 4 tv journalist, Jon Snow, maintained order. Other participants were London MEPs Jean Lambert (Green Party) and Charles Tannock(Conservative)along with MEPs Richard Howitt (Labour, East of England) and Nigel Farage (UKIP, South East).


Students enquired about the EU budget, MEP allowances, the future of the euro currency and the likelihood of Turkey’s admission to the EU. The Grey Coat Debating Prefect raised the issue of Angela Merkel’s declaration that ‘multiculturism had failed in Germany’ whilst Louise O’Hara asked ‘How successful have the electoral systems been for the European Parliament?’. Though not a European responsibility, the MEPs were bombarded with questions about tuition fees.


At the end of the session, sixthformers had the opportunity to vote on whether, in view of the day’s discussion, they wished to remain in the EU. Since only 9 of the 150 present would opt to leave the EU, there appeared to be a discrepancy


between the teenage audience and the UKIP claim that 60% of British people sought withdrawal. The general consensus was that isolation from Europe would prove counter-productive.


Afterwards Sarah Ludford remarked, “The liveliness of the questions showed that giving young people the chance to quiz their MPs is a great way to get them engaged in politics. I was impressed by the quality of the questions and the students’ awareness of what the EU and European Parliament do, and found it great fun. I hope there will be future such events.”


Sarah Nwandu 11


London Youth Games


The 2011 London Youth Games are upon us with training in preparation for the games already on the way. City of Westminster would like to encourage as many young people who live and go to school within Westminster as possible to get involved.


The 2011 Balfour Beatty London Youth Games season will see 25 competition days across 30 sports for young people aged 7-18. Last year over 50,000 young people took part from all 33 London boroughs competing in individual, team, boys, girls, able-bodied and disabled events.


A number of sessions/trials across different sports have been set up in Westminster in preparation for the games please visit www. westminster.gov.uk/londonyouthgames for a full listing.


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