School pupils have criticised high-ranking MPs who failed to respond to repeated invites to talk to them.

Year Ten students from Varndean School in Brighton invited MPs Simon Hughes, David Willets and Simon Kirby to talk about education cuts.

But only Tory Mr Kirby, who represents Brighton’s Kemptown ward, responded. And he failed to turn up on the day, later saying he attended Varndean College by mistake.

He has since promised to visit the school in May.

The pupils said Lib Dem Mr Hughes, who last December was elected Advocate for Access to Education, and Tory Mr Willets, Minister of the State for Universities and Science, did not even respond to the pupils’ email and phone requests.

In school newsletter the Varndean Eye the pupils said: “How can we expect young people in society like us, who already feel alienated from the government, to embrace and support changes that are being made, and want to play a part in the ‘big society’ when we are left looking like lemons at the mercy of another no-show politician?”

The pupils said they were initially prompted to contact the MPs following cuts to education, which they said they were “pretty outraged” about.

They continued: “What does this say about our government? They are so unconcerned about our generation that they not only don’t turn up to painstakingly arranged meetings but some don’t even reply to our attempts to reach out to them.

“Maybe we really are Con-dem’d to another four years of politicians who, frankly, can’t be bothered about the people. How refreshing.”

The Argus contacted all three MPs.

Mr Kirby explained he had gone to the wrong school and said he was going to meet pupils next month.

Mr Hughes’ spokesman said: “Since Simon was appointed as Advocate for Access to Education we have been inundated with requests for visits.

“Simon has visited many schools and colleges throughout the country in the last few months. Unfortunately he has not been to Brighton so far. We received an email from Varndean on March 29 following up from an earlier letter they sent in January.

“I have checked our database and cannot find any record of us receiving the original letter. I have therefore now written to Varndean and asked them if they can resend their original. The students of Varndean have been impressive in their commitment to engaging with this debate and I will therefore be happy to see what we can do to accommodate them.”

A Varndean School spokeswoman said: “Simon Kirby has since apologised to the Student Cabinet and has agreed to come to Varndean School in May to meet with the students.”

Mr Willets did not respond.