On Tuesday 12 February, local London Assembly Member, Len Duvall AM, took part in a digital surgery with students from Plumstead Manor secondary school.
The digital surgery, organised by the educational organisation, The Politics Project, involved Mr Duvall taking questions from pupils over a video link on subjects such as the housing crisis, economic development and violent crime. He was also quizzed on his career in politics and work as the London Assembly Member for Greenwich and Lewisham.
During the hour-long session, Mr Duvall discussed City Hall’s focus on a preventative approach to youth violence and the need for a Government-backed push to build thousands of social homes across the capital.
He also outlined his London Assembly campaign for the Government to introduce a Domestic Abusers’ Register and was asked by one student to provide details of his tumultuous relationship with the previous Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
The Politics Project arranges digital surgeries to take place between politicians and schools across the country in order to boost youth engagement in local and national political issues.
Local London Assembly Member, Len Duvall AM, said: “This was the first time I had taken part in a digital surgery and it really is a fantastic way to politically engage with constituents and young people.
“I was very impressed with the well-informed and wide-ranging questions that were put to me by the Plumstead Manor students.
“It also provided me with a great opportunity to emphasise why it is so vitally important that people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in what is going on politically on both a local and national level.
“Now more than ever, we need more ways to hold our representatives to account, and this is why I applaud the fantastic work that The Politics Project are undertaking with this initiative”.