SCHOOLGIRL Samantha Aspin sampled a day in the life of a politician with Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

Samantha, 15, of Tintern Crescent, Little Harwood, Blackburn, received the invite after Mr Straw visited pupils at Pleckgate High School.

The teenager, who wants to pursue a career in law when she leaves school, impressed Mr Straw when she to challenged him about the war in Iraq and immigration issues.

She accompanied him to open a new production line at cake company Inter Link Foods then went to his afternoon surgeries.

Samantha said: "It was absolutely great. He was really down to earth and answered all my questions and he really loves his job."