One of the highlights of being an MP is spending time with young people in Watford, debating local, national and international questions. I’m always encouraged to see just how passionately students feel about issues we face in our area and country, and it’s clear that they rightly hold very strong opinions about their futures.

It’s great that so many schools run politics societies, school councils and committees tackling issues that really matter to their pupils. I’ve held Q&A sessions with many of them and the grilling they have given me is far more intense than any parliamentary committee I faced during my time as a minister!

It’s one of the reasons why I offer placements in my office throughout the year when I can, as I always enjoy giving young residents the opportunity to see how an MP’s office works and what the role entails from day to day. Experience of parliamentary business, as well as handling important constituency matters, offers pupils insight into how to effectively support your local community and individual constituents to have their voices heard.

While I won’t be standing at the next general election, whenever that may be, I can honestly say that serving as the MP for Watford for more than nine years has been the great honour and privilege. It is a fantastic, worthy job and I’m delighted to see that with such enthusiastic and motivated young people in our community, Watford has a very bright political future ahead of it!

  • Richard Harrington is Independent MP for Watford