Following Sir Peter’s talk in December, the head of the Westminster School Conservative Association, Oskar (Remove, GG), reflected on the visit of the House of Commons’ longest-serving Member of Parliament, and set out the mission of the Association.

Oskar:
Speaking to real-life Members of Parliament — like Sir Peter Bottomley, who has served his country for nearly 50 years, participating in debates and making decisions in the House of Commons — is something we are lucky to be able to do so regularly, being just over the road here at Westminster School.

On his visit, Sir Peter filled the lecture room with intrigued Westminsters. He started his talk by sharing details about his political career, delving into his personal definition of politics and how his experiences shaped him. Learning about the changes in politics from Thatcher’s Britain, when Sir Peter began his political journey, to the modern day, certainly inspired all of us in attendance. The Father of the House then shared anecdotes from his time in Parliament and proceeded to answer the many questions on our minds.

Hot topics like the Conservative Party’s internal climate, shifts in both his and the party’s viewpoints over the years, and even controversial subjects like the party’s immigration policy, were raised and adeptly handled with the know-how and experience of a seasoned statesman.

Overall, Sir Peter’s visit provided a fantastic opportunity to seek answers to very specific questions, ones that might have remained unanswered if he hadn’t kindly agreed to give us his time. Events like these showcase Westminster’s unique position: close enough to parliament for MPs to swiftly join us for lunch, and intellectually stimulating enough for guest speakers to eagerly participate in discussions and idea-sharing, rather than delivering lengthy lectures. In the future, I hope we can welcome many more guest speakers with the same open-mindedness and anticipation that we showed to Sir Peter.

The Westminster Conservative Association serves as a platform for conservative ideas and discussions. Primarily, we invite guest speakers, including MPs and activists like Mark Field and Sir Peter Bottomley, to give talks on topics of their choice to us and our peers. Typically, the guest speaker outlines their political career and may discuss a few topics they are particularly passionate about, followed by questions from interested pupils.

It’s worth noting that attending Conservative Association talks, asking guest speakers questions, or even giving a talk oneself, is not a political statement or party affiliation. Engaging with the Association simply indicates an interest in politics and a willingness to discuss one’s ideas with others similarly interested in the governance of our country.

We do not discriminate against any political views and even encourage those critical of conservative politics to attend our talks and ask challenging questions. Inviting prominent political figures allows us to explore their unique perspectives on current affairs, ensuring that we are informed about politics from various angles, not just those shared with our peers.