Borders politician Rachael Hamilton said it was a ‘real pleasure’ to talk to Eyemouth’s National 5 Modern Studies students as she discussed her job as the local Member of the Scottish Parliament with them.
After a short presentation, the pupils quizzed Ms Hamilton on a variety of topics that they had covered on their Modern Studies course.
The students discussed a wide range of topics, including increased support for women with endometriosis and fast-tracking disabled blue badges for those with Motor Neurone Disease.
Ms Hamilton said she was ‘impressed’ with the students’ understanding of current topical issues ranging from the deposit return scheme to the gender reform bill.
The pupils also discussed how they can get more involved in politics – a conversation Ms Hamilton said she was ‘especially pleased’ to have with young people. She added that she was keen to see more young people getting involved in politics locally in the Scottish Borders.
The visit was facilitated by Developing the Young Workforce as part of their 'day in the life initiative'.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“It was a real pleasure to speak to pupils at Eyemouth High School about life in politics. The National 5 Modern Studies class facilitated a great discussion about a wide range of topics.
“I was impressed with their grasp of the topical issues we discussed, and their understanding of Scottish politics more widely.
“It was also fantastic to speak to the class about how they can get involved in politics too. I was especially pleased to be able to answer their questions about what they can do to get more involved.
“I hope that sharing my experience of working in politics will help them in their studies, and show that people from all walks of life can participate in Scottish Politics in one way or another.”
Amy Hamilton from Developing the Young Workforce said:
“We were very thankful for Ms Hamilton for giving up her time to come to Eyemouth High School to talk to the National 5 Modern Studies students about her role as the local MSP for the area. We found out about different routes and pathways into the world of politics.”
