STUDENT politicians lined up for a party leaders' debate to raise awareness of the issues at stake in the imminent election.
Five sixth formers at The King's Academy, Coulby Newham, stood in for the real leaders as they represented the main parties and tried to sell their policies to an audience of students and staff before a mock election is held.
Politics teacher Jenni Yuill explained: "The students had done their research and were able to explain the manifesto pledges of the parties they represented on the key issues of the economy, education, health, immigration and the environment."
Representing UKIP, Matthew Bigland explained that his party would cut university tuition fees for subjects including science, medicine and engineering, and that it would bring back grammar schools.
For the Conservatives Lewis Melvin reminded the audience of the party's record in creating a strong economy and offering a referendum on Europe in 2017.
Ben Rowden had to put his personal politics behind him to stand in for the Liberal Democrat candidate, giving a fair presentation on its record of income tax cuts and introducing free school meals for primary age children, and its focus on investment in mental health care.
Paige Cope, for the Green Party, said they would create a more equal society, scrapping tuition fees, Standard Assessment Tests in primary schools and prescription charges for dental and eye care.
Labour's Ibraheem Dar said he would ban zero hours contracts and the bedroom tax and increase the minimum wage to £8.10 per hour.
Ms Yuill added: "Some of our sixth formers will be voting for the first time in this election. I've encouraged them all to follow up our leaders' debate with more research.
"They may find the party they think they want to vote for isn't necessarily the one with the policies they agree with, or that locally a candidate from another party might have a more convincing case than their party nationally. The point is to use their vote wisely in an informed way and not to waste it."
