St John’s students learn with a Lord

Last Friday, March 14, Lord de Clifford, a hereditary peer and a member of the House of Lords, visited A-Level Government and Politics students at St John’s, Marlborough to talk about his work and their role in it. The visit was part of the ‘Learn with the Lords’ programme.  

Lord de Clifford has been a member of the House of Lords since September 2023 and is crossbencher with no party affiliation.  He has an interest in agriculture and animals, plus small businesses and is Senior Vice President of a Veterinary Management Group in Wiltshire.

Lord de Clifford spoke to students on a range of topics including his journey into politics and the role the House of Lords has in the passing of laws, holding the government to account and making recommendations to the government on diverse topics through its committee work.

He then answered questions from students on a variety of different subjects including why he chose to be a crossbencher, the changes to inheritance tax, the proposed reforms to hereditary peers, and his thoughts on the UK’s electoral voting system.

He also had some good advice for students. “Always work hard and step out of your comfort zone. And, if you become an expert in something, there is no reason why anyone in this room can’t become a member of the House of Lords.” 

Elsie Bennyworth, a Year 13 Politics student, found the visit very informative, educational and relevant to her Politics A-Level, whilst Mia Pitts, Head Student and Politics student said “It was really interesting to hear his opinions on the House of Lords reform. We read about it as part of our A-level course, but to talk to someone about it brought it to life”.

Sarah Wilson, Vice Principal of St John’s said, “The impact of visits like Lord de Clifford’s on young people cannot be overstated. His engaging presentation and insightful Q&A session highlighted for our students the vital role the House of Lords plays in our democracy, and how our political system directly influences their lives. The students were also thrilled to capture a moment wearing the de Clifford ceremonial robes; a photo they won’t forget!”