SIXTH form students from nine schools across Oxfordshire were able to quiz Kenneth Clarke MP as part of a political debate event at the Bodleian Library.

Mr Clarke joined a special panel session to mark Parliament Week, which gave students the chance to ask questions about the relationship between the UK and European Union.

The event started with a workshop for the 90 sixth form students, led by staff from the Department of Politics and International Relations from Oxford University, which explored the key moments and policy tensions in Britain’s relationship with Europe from the end of the Second World War to the present day.

The workshop was followed by a panel discussion in Convocation House near to the Sheldonian Theatre in Broad Street.

Dr Elizabeth Frazer, Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, said the debate gave young people a chance to talk about Britain leaving the EU. 

She said:“We are delighted that Kenneth Clarke, who has made Europe a core interest during his career spanning nearly half a century, agreed to speak at the event. 

"We hope it helps foster their interest in politics and current affairs and, hopefully, some of them might even consider studying it at university.

“At the very least, it should help them understand a bit more about the workings of government.”

The discussion panel included Will Straw, of the Stronger In campaign, Caroline Lees, Editor of the Reuters Institute’s European Journalism Observatory and BBC journalist Chris Bowlby.