MP Takes Questions from Y12 Politics Students

Written by George Buckley (Y12)

28th November 2022

On Monday 28th November Philip Davies MP, visited Ilkley Grammar School to take questions from Year 12 politics students. Mr Davies, a Conservative MP, whose Shipley seat includes Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston, took questions on a range of issues including his voting record in Parliament, public sector pay and his electoral chances at the next General Election. 

Mr Davies also spoke about how government can support people through winter in the face of sky-high energy bills and electricity shortages. He discussed his view that the UK needs to draw its energy from a number of sources, including fossil fuels, on top of renewables in order to meet demand. Mr Davies also expressed his support for fracking. Students pressed the MP on his views about public sector pay and a lively debate was had on nurses’ pay, with Mr Davies citing his belief that a pay rise of 5% above inflation demanded by the Royal College of Nurses was unaffordable for the government.

Philip Davies is known to be one of parliament’s most outspoken MPs and he most certainly did not hold back when defending his views. It was very interesting to hear about the reasoning behind many of his voting decisions and he provided a strong argument for them. I thought that it was noticeable that Philip was very open when answering questions, something that not every politician has the ability to do and he was frank about matters like his electoral prospects. It was a thoroughly enjoyable Q and A, both myself and my peers are looking forward to visiting Westminster next week at the invite of Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore.

The Year 12 politics students and the Ilkley Grammar School politics teaching team would like to thank Philip Davies for his visit, this comes after Robbie Moore, the MP for Keighley and Ilkley, and Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West, visited the school in October and held a ‘question time’ style debate which was informative and interesting to see opposing points of view presented.

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