Students Witness Historic Lords Debate
6.1 Politics A Level students had a memorable day in London, gaining first-hand insight into the workings of British and European politics through visits to the Houses of Parliament and Europe House.
The day began with a guided tour of the historic Palace of Westminster, home to the UK Parliament. Students were able to stand inside the House of Commons itself — an experience that brought their classroom studies to life. Many were struck by how small the chamber feels in person, particularly when standing beside the famous Despatch Box, where Keir Starmer delivers Prime Minister’s Questions each week.
A sobering moment of the tour was seeing the memorial plaques commemorating MPs who lost their lives in public service, including Jo Cox. The visit served as a powerful reminder of both the privilege and the responsibility that come with democratic representation.
The group then had tickets to watch a sitting of the House of Lords, who were in session debating the End of Life (Terminally Ill Adults) Bill. This was a fantastic time to visit, as the Bill demonstrates the Lords’ constitutional role in scrutinising legislation, often bringing their experience from outside politics to bear. Split into two groups, each group then watched the debate for about 20-30 mins. One group watched Lord Falconer defending his definition of “Terminally Ill” from criticism. Falconer has been in the news recently, as he has threatened to use the Parliament Act to stop what he sees as the House of Lords “blocking” the bill. During lunch, all the students continued enthusiastically discussing the bill and related moral questions.
Student Izzy J said:
“A highlight of the trip was watching the debate in the House of Lords, which was on the Assisted Dying Bill. I found watching this very insightful, inspirational and touching, hearing the Lords’ personal stories related to this bill.”
In the afternoon, the students attended a session at Europe House, the EU’s base in the UK, in which the students learned about how the EU works, about how the EU and the UK are currently working together, and about the different political blocs and divisions in the EU Parliament. Students were then given roles (specific Members of the European Parliaments who they role-played as) and debated possible future directions for the EU “in character”.
The trip provided students with a rare opportunity to witness democracy in action — from the traditions of Westminster to the evolving politics of Europe — reinforcing the real-world relevance of their studies.
