A PARLIAMENTARY candidate came face to face with voters of the future in a Question Time-style school debate.

Students from Risedale Sports and Community College, Hipswell, Catterick Garrison, met with prospective parliamentary candidate for Richmond Rishi Sunak for a discussion on local and national issues.

The politically-minded pupils posed a raft of questions to Mr Sunak on his views from education and green policies to health and community engagement.

Head of creative faculty Sarah Cox said: “Inviting Mr Sunak to meet our students is all part of raising aspirations in young people.

“Alongside his ambitions to become the MP for Richmond, Mr Sunak is also a very successful businessman and has a deep passion for education.

“I’m sure that by giving up his time to come into school, talk about his life and openly answer students’ questions it will help them to see what they might achieve in their careers and show they have a voice in the world of politics as the potential voters of the future.”

Mr Sunak said: “I have been really impressed with the students here at Risedale. They are obviously very well-informed and posed some really well thought out questions.”