Last Wednesday, A Level Politics students took part in a live Teams call with Baroness Grey-Thompson as part of the Learn with the Lords scheme. The 45-minute session included an extended Q&A, with Baroness Grey-Thompson spending around 40 minutes responding in detail to students’ questions. These covered a wide range of topics, including the process of becoming a Baroness and whether she had any hesitations about joining the House of Lords; the extent of cross-party cooperation in the Lords and how this compares with the House of Commons; and whether the Salisbury Convention remains sacrosanct, particularly in light of recent debates surrounding amendments to the Employment Rights Bill.

Baroness Grey-Thompson was open and transparent in her responses, drawing on real examples of legislation, as well as discussing her roles, achievements, and the challenges of life in the House of Lords. As students study the House of Lords as part of their Parliament topic, this experience provided valuable insight into the realities of its work and significantly enhanced their understanding.

We are extremely grateful to Baroness Grey-Thompson and the Learn with the Lords team for organising such an informative and engaging event.