Bristol South Labour Party

Working hard all year round for South Bristol

Emily and Maisy meet Gordon at No. 10.

Two young people from Bristol were given a once in a lifetime opportunity this week to meet the Prime Minister at a Downing Street reception.

Emily Lewin, who is studying A-levels at the City Academy, and Maisy Griffiths, Head Girl of Ashton Park Secondary School, went to Downing Street on Wednesday evening to attend the reception which celebrated the achievements of young people from across the country. 

Emily, who was selected by her school to attend because of her enthusiastic involvement in several school initiatives and her academic achievement, hopes to go on to study Psychology at Bristol University.   Maisy is actively involved with her School Council, has her bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, spent two weeks trekking in Morocco earlier this year and represented her school at the regional finals of a major public speaking competition.  She hopes to study Government and Politics at A-Level next year. 

Emily and Maisy were invited to the event by their local MPs, Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East, and Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South.  As well as meeting Gordon Brown, Emily and Maisy both met the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, and also had the chance to speak to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools & Families, Ed Balls.  Emily also spoke to Bill Rammell, the Universities Minister, about her plans for university and she was given a quick tour of the Houses of Parliament too.

Speaking after the event, Kerry said:

“I was delighted that I could offer Emily this opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues.  The event celebrated all the positive things that young people are achieving in communities across the country, and I am glad that young people from Bristol were represented there.”

Dawn added:

“It’s so important that we celebrate the successes of young people in our community, so I was delighted to invite Maisy to Downing Street.  She’s a fantastic role model and a credit to Ashton Park.  As politicians, we need to do all we can to engage with young people, and I hope that events like this show them that we appreciate their contribution.”

[16 November 2007]