The first annual Parliament Week took place between 31 October and 6 November to explore how democracy affects citizens and how they can participate in it.

To celebrate the new national initiative, local MP Mary Macleod invited a student from the Green School to shadow her in Parliament for the day. Shanice Wilson, who is in her final year of Sixth Form and preparing to study Law at University, spent the day with Mary and assisted in her Parliamentary office.

Shanice attended Prime Minister’s questions, watched MPs debate the Legal Aid bill, helped with a local project in the office and accompanied Mary to meetings.

Mary commented, “When I meet with constituents I am often asked about how politics affects them and why they should become involved. We engage with politics and democracy in our daily lives, often without even realising . I offered a local student the chance to experience life in Parliament to demonstrate how and why the House of Commons and the House of Lords matter to everyone.

“Shanice joined me on Wednesday 2nd November in Westminster where we discussed how people perceive Parliament, life as an MP and her future ambitions. Following a busy day in the House, Shanice then lent her local knowledge to a new education project I am working on.

“I hope Shanice found the experience to be useful and one which may even be the start of a path into political life!”