A WALNEY school played host to a children's mock parliament last Friday ran by the Barrow MP.

The year five class from St Columba's Catholic Primary School took part in a mock parliament run by the MP John Woodcock.

The children were able to learn and engage with a staged debate in a similar style to the House of Commons about two issues of their choosing.

The motion they put before the ''House'' was 'whether the government should provide shelter for all homeless people' and 'whether women should be allowed to be priests.'

The acting Speaker, Mr Woodcock, then asked the honourable gentleman and women of both sides to take it in turns to debate both issues.

After plenty of debating it went down to a vote. The speaker said: "Divison, clear the lobbies" and the children cast their vote.

12 votes to 18 against the government providing shelter for all the homeless and 18 votes to 12 in favour of females being priests.

John Woodcock, Barrow MP, said: "The decisions that MP's make affect all of our lives so it is important that we involve people at every level.

"I love getting children involved in the parliamentary process and the more young people who are switched on about what we do the more likely they are to vote when they are older.

"By running these mock parliaments they not only learn, it is also fun and gives them confidence."

Angela Pope, year five teacher, said: "I feel that they would never have learnt so much about the parliamentary process without him coming in.

"He made it feel more relevant and it was great to see him down at their level helping them to learn.