MP Consults school children over war

4.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Apr 2003

MP Vincent Cable commenced, last week, a series of visits to local schools to discuss pupils' views about the war in the Gulf. He held a Q and A session with girls at Waldegrave School and this week goes to Whitton School.

He said that the questions "were penetrating and sophisticated and reflected a close interest and knowledge about what was going on. Several of the girls had family connections with Iraq. There was, naturally, a variety of views but a large majority were critical of the war".

"The Head commented that there was a far greater sense of involvement by pupils in the issues around this war than previous conflicts like the previous Gulf War or Kosovo and this interest was reflected in the fact that the MP's Q and A session was heavily over subscribed."