How I met Rishi Sunak at Parliament
Here's the story of how I met the former UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
Same day, I watched PMQs, met loads of MPs and sat in on a debate in Parliament.
For context, I'm a Youth Ambassador for my borough in London, Barnet. I first ran when I was 12, and lost. The second time, I won.
PMQs
So, on a Wednesday morning in September, I get the tube to Westminster.
Every Wednesday at 12 there's PMQs, basically 30 minutes of the Prime Minister getting grilled by MPs. And apparently it's really, really hard to get in as a walk-in.
So I queued for 30 minutes... and got in for the last five minutes. (Still counts.)
Phones aren't allowed in the gallery, so you'll have to take my word for it. But I got in.
MPs and a coffee shop
Then I'm walking around Parliament and there are MPs everywhere, and I met loads of them.
The debate wasn't until 4, so I did what any normal 15-year-old would do. Found a coffee shop and locked in for a few hours.
The debate, and Rishi Sunak
The debate was about saving the UK Youth Parliament's funding. And it wasn't even in the Commons, it was in Westminster Hall.
And then, right before it started, we met Rishi Sunak.
Yes. The former Prime Minister.
Then the debate, and after it we just hung out for two hours like it was a normal Wednesday.
What stuck with me is how different it all is in person. You read about Parliament for years and it stays abstract. Then you're stood in it, watching people you've only ever seen on a screen argue about things that genuinely affect you, and it stops being abstract very quickly.
If you want to go
PMQs tickets are free for UK residents if you ask your MP (how to get them). Or do what I did and queue 30 minutes for five.
I'm going back to Parliament soon. Part two coming.