In March 2025, fifteen Edge Hill politics students were privileged to undertake the annual visit to one of the UK’s Parliaments. This year it was Westminster and our visit to the capital was thought-provoking and eye-opening in many ways, providing us with an insight into the way our country is run and its relation to and impact upon the rest of the world. As a group, we shared experiences we won’t soon forget. Throughout our time there, we were grateful to meet with several Members of Parliament, a member of the House of Lords, and parliamentary staff, all people whose experience in the highest positions in the country gave us a fantastic insight into what real politics is like. We were also very lucky to be present during a summit of European leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, at a crucial time for the UK’s relations with both Ukraine and Europe. We witnessed our Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, make an important speech in the House of Commons in this respect. These experiences opened our minds and made us consider what political life is really like. Many of us are in our third year at Edge Hill and will soon be moving on to new experiences and pursuing our careers. Our trip to London inspired us to think about our future career prospects and helped us understand what a life in politics may look like.
The Trip
Our trip began on 2nd March, when we met early in the morning and journeyed from Liverpool Lime Street to London’s famous Euston Station. Although we weren’t yet aware, we were travelling to London at perhaps the most exciting time. Throughout weeks prior, the war in Ukraine had dominated the global conversation, and had created something of a divide between Europe and its greatest ally the United States. At such a crucial moment in global politics, we were incredibly lucky to be present in London when Ukrainian President Zelensky, along with numerous leaders from Europe, visited Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the war and international relations. We stood outside the building in which the world leaders met, watching their cars go by as they concluded the historic talks. This made us consider global politics, Britain’s place in the world, and what the future would look like for our generation.
Visiting Parliament
The following day, we entered the historic Palace of Westminster – the home of the British Parliament and the heart of our democracy. On our visit, we were fortunate enough to meet with Emma Walker, an Edge Hill graduate currently working as a Senior Caseworker for Sir Mark Hendrick, MP for Preston. She very graciously answered our questions, enquired into the move from university into politics and exchanged memories of Edge Hill. This experience hit close to home for many of us, making us ponder our own career prospects, and inspiring many of us to use what we have learned at Edge Hill and pursue our own careers in politics. To see someone who had graduated from our own university, who was in our position only several years ago, successfully engage with politics and make a career for themselves was extremely encouraging.
This feeling was only amplified when we met Rt Hon. Lord Lingfield, a Conservative member of the House of Lords. After discussing the House of Lords with us, he encouraged us and even offered support should we choose to pursue a career in politics, before kindly allowing us to sit in the friends-and-family section of the House of Lords public gallery and watch proceedings. We were impressed to see former Prime Minister Baroness Theresa May there. Lord Lingfield’s words of encouragement made us feel more at ease with graduating and seeking a career in politics.
One of the highlights of our trip was our experience in the House of Commons. After waiting in a queue, we were permitted to go into the public gallery and watch the proceeding. Unbeknownst to us, however, we were entering the gallery at the perfect time, as the UK Prime Minister was present in the House taking questions from MPs regarding Ukraine and the aforementioned meeting with European leaders. This was a fascinating and unique experience which gave us an insight into how MPs engage with Parliament and how serious their jobs are, as they talked about complex global issues. We were privileged to see a sitting Prime Minister doing his duty at the highest level.
Visiting the Supreme Court
On our final day, we were able to visit the Supreme Court. Established in 2009, when the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (UKSC) replaced The Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest appeal court in the United Kingdom, this is a relatively new institution. We were lucky enough to watch a case unfold. Several law students were among us, and were able to see what their careers would be like should they choose to go into practicing law when they graduate later this year. This was yet another experience which provoked thought about pursuing future career opportunities.
Overall, our trip to London was a fantastic experience. Having seen politics play out on screens, and subsequently learning about it in lectures, we now had the opportunity to watch it play out in real time. It made it feel more real; made it seem like an attainable goal. It made us think about the way our country is run, its political institutions, and its place in the world. The experience will stay with us for a long time.
