Schoolchildren were given a lesson in politics by the speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, when he visited a school to speak to them about the importance of politics.

The Comet: John Bercow visits Wilbury Junior schoolJohn Bercow visits Wilbury Junior school (Image: Archant)

Mr Bercow visited Wilbury Junior School in Letchworth GC on Thursday.

The Tory MP spoke briefly about his role and then took questions from the school’s 300 children including, “Who is the worst MP?” and “How do you keep control when everyone is shouting?”

Speaking to the Comet afterwards, the MP for Buckingham said: “It’s important to get children interested in politics because it affects everyone.

“For children of this age it isn’t going to be their primary focus because they’re interested in other things like sport but it’s still vital that we teach them how politics affects every aspect of their lives.

“The best way to do that is by visiting schools and speaking directly to the them about what we do and why we do it.”

The school runs a council, chaired by teaching assistant Julie Baugh, which features 18 pupils who are democratically elected by their peers in September and sit for a whole year.

School teacher Charlie Hutson, who helps the council and organised Mr Bercow’s trip, said: “I want to get children involved in politics because it affects everyone and I think it’s vital they take an interest the people who make the decisions that affect them.”