WHILE his friends would have enjoyed work placements in shops and offices, Jack Cooke was finding out about life in the Houses of Parliament.

The 15-year-old young politician shadowed Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson for a fortnight and saw what it was like to represent the constituency.

The Fisher More High School pupil, who was elected to the Youth Parliament for Pendle in February last year, sat in the gallery in the Commons taking notes on Parliamentary debates, helped respond to constituents and attended meetings, including with Bruce Keogh, whose review looked into failings at 14 hospital trusts including East Lancashire.

Jack said: “I’ve had an incredible time in London and it will be sad, in some respects, to go back to normal life.

“Having this unique opportunity to work in Parliament has given me a deeper understanding of what Parliament and the Government do and why it’s important.

“This experience will stay with me for many years to come and the skills I have learnt and developed will put me in good stead for my lifelong ambition to work as Private Secretary in the Queen’s Royal Household.

“The work that goes behind the scenes of any MP has been a real eye-opener and I have picked up a few tips of how to improve my own role as a Youth MP.” Mr Stephenson said: “Jack has applied himself really well in his time working with me. He is very focused and thoughtful for someone so young and, like so many of Pendle’s young people, has a great future ahead of him. I hope that he learnt from working with me in Parliament. I will be watching what he does as Pendle’s representative on the Youth Parliament with interest.

“Who knows, he might be after my job soon!”