THE FUTURE of political debate is in safe hands as the son of Question Time’s David Dimbleby hosted his own panel on the EU referendum.

Jacob Rees Mogg MP and writer and former MP Matthew Parris were guests at the Brighton College debate.

No strangers to a grilling on Question Time by the formidable presenter Dimbleby senior, it was a case of deja vu on Monday night when they faced the BBC man’s son, 18-year-old Fred.

The school on Eastern Road was on the subject of Brexit and aimed to educate its own and other local schools’ sixth-formers on the thorny issue.

On the Leave side, Mr Rees-Mogg was joined by pupil Molly O’Gorman, 16, while Mr Parris made the case for Remain, ably accompanied by Alex Manzoor, 17.

With his father sitting in the audience, Fred did the family name proud by keeping a lid on the hot topic and maintaining a flowing debate.

Speaking afterwards, Fred said: “I was pretty nervous before the debate started and both Mr Rees-Mogg and Mr Parris are very eloquent speakers and very experienced at this sort of event.

“I didn’t want to make a hash of it.

“But once it got going, I absolutely loved it.

“I would love to make a career in political journalism but I am not quite sure whether I would like to go into TV journalism.

“I’m more into podcasting which is big in the US but hasn’t crossed over here as much yet.”

Mr Rees-Mogg, talking after the discussion, said: “Fred did an great job and I think his dad was very proud of him.”

Mr Parris added: “I think the sixth-formers were more impressive than some of the people on the actual Question Time.”

Fred is studying philosophy, politics and history at Brighton College and is hoping to go on to study history at university after sitting his A-level exams.