STUDENTS from The Blue School and Wells Cathedral School prompted a lively 90-minute debate in a Youth Question Time event at Wells Town Hall in November.
The teenagers posed questions to a panel consisting of MP Tessa Munt, county councillor Theo Butt Philip and city councillor Louis Agabani, the Deputy Mayor of Wells.
Topics ranged from inheritance tax and assisted dying to defence spending and social media.
The debate was chaired by Wells Mayor Jasmine Browne, who organised it as part of UK Parliament Week and to get more young people engaged in politics.
Also in attendance were city councillors Stewart Cursley, Philip Welch, Deborah Orrett and Denise Denis.
In response to a question asking panellists for their views on VAT on private schools, “given that Wells Cathedral School is such an asset to the economy of Wells”, Ms Munt and Cllr Agabani both felt that this was not a good idea, and wondered whether state schools had the capacity to take extra pupils if required.
One student asked for views on the viability of a train link being reinstated in Wells, with the economic and environmental benefits that could bring. Cllr Butt Philip said he did not think it was going to be on the agenda “any time soon, or ever”, and that it would be better to invest much more in the bus service, which could be improved for a fraction of the cost.
Ms Munt was asked what the biggest challenge has been so far since she has been MP. She said that the first challenge was winning, and then the biggest challenge has been not having money to get things done.
“I’d encourage you to get involved in politics,” she told the students at that point. “I’d love for Wells City Council to have a Youth Council so you can flex a bit of muscle about what happens in the city.”
Should the voting age be lowered to 16?, asked a student. Cllr Agabani and Ms Munt both said they would be in favour of such a move.
There were questions about the definition of a working person, whether Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States might impact us in the UK, about CO2 emissions and climate change, and about the cutting of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners.
In another question directed specifically at the MP, Ms Munt was asked what her key priorities are for the constituency in the coming year. She said sorting out the cost-of-living crisis and helping people understand what help is available to them; stopping Wessex Water dumping sewage in rivers; and making sure people have the support they need around health issues, and can get doctor’s and dentist’s appointments.