SHE might not be facing the Prime Minister at the despatch box.
But student Grace Melaugh spent the day as an MP.
The Rastrick student was one of thousands of students taking part in Takeover Day, a work experience scheme which gives young people the chance to work with adults for the day and be involved in decision-making.
She spent the day with Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker as he visited schools, businesses and held meetings with constituents.
Grace, 17, an A-level student at Rastrick High School Sixth Form College said: “I want to study history and politics at university next year so to have this opportunity is great.
“If anything it’s shown how varied the job of an MP is.”
The MP and student ‘MP’ spent part of their day at Rastrick Independent School, where Craig spoke about his job and then held a question and answer session.
Grace said: “It’s Parliamentary Week so they knew a bit about what an MP does, but they asked loads of questions, they asked him what it was like to meet the Prime Minister and what he thought about Nadine Dorries going on I’m A Celebrity.
“I think it’s good to see that Craig is focused on his constituency, he was saying he has met Barack Obama and the Queen but he feels he makes the biggest difference in his constituency.”
Grace has debating experience and is interested in politics, but she thinks her future lies in either law or teaching after she completes A-levels in history, geography and English language.
“It would be interesting to be an MP but it’s incredibly long hours,” she added. “He spends Monday to Thursday in London and then is back in his constituency from Friday all weekend, it sounds quite a demanding job.”
Mr Whittaker said he was pleased to let young people see what life as an MP is like.
He was elected to Parliament in the 2010 General Election, having been a Rastrick councillor previously.
Asked if being an MP was what he imagined it would be, he replied: “I’ve learnt that being an MP is a lifestyle as much as a job and there are two distinct parts – the bit in Westminster is about legislation and regulation, while the constituency work is very different.”
