STUDENTS questioned an MP about Brexit, his struggles with dyslexia and what inspires him during a video conference.

Year 11 pupils at Hove Park School spoke to Hove MP Peter Kyle when he was broadcast into their classroom.

This was part of a digital surgery organised by education group The Politics Project.

These are hour-long video conferences between politicians and their student constituents, designed to increase their engagement in and understanding of politics.

Hove Park student Shannon Jones said: “I thought it was really good and gave me a proper insight into what politics is.

“I actually felt involved.”

The project aims to give students the knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in politics and in their communities.

The programme is designed to build trust between young people and politicians by letting them have direct conversations about issues that matter to them.

Hove Park student Varsha Traynor, 15, said: “I liked how it was direct and there were no barriers, it was just us talking directly to him and it wasn’t going through anyone, so we could find out exactly his opinion was.”

Before the session, students received a workshop focused on improving their understanding of formal politics, ability to construct powerful questions, and their public speaking skills.

Peter Kyle said: “I love visiting local schools, meeting students, and bringing them up to Parliament, but all of that takes a lot of organising.

“So, being beamed into a classroom and having a fantastic chat with students at Hove Park was perfect.

“Students were brilliantly engaged and asked some really tough and insightful questions.

“The conversation felt really natural despite it being electronic.

“I’d love to make this a regular part of how an MP makes themselves accessible, I’ll certainly jump at the chance to make it a regular part of the way I engage with our community.”

Following their first digital surgery with Peter Kyle, students at Hove Park School will also be taking part in a surgery with John Howarth MEP, Labour member of the European Parliament for the South East region next month.

Jim Roberts, headteacher at Hove Park School, said: “Now more than ever, it is so important that students connect with politics and politicians.

“I am hoping that the experience this morning will inspire them to keep asking those important questions of those elected to represent them.”

The programme is running in schools across the UK.

Other politicians taking part include Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Nicky Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson and more than 70 politicians from all UK political party.

In Brighton and Hove, the Politics Project also works with Caroline Lucas MP and Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP.

Harriet Andrews, director of The Politics Project, said: “A massive thanks to Hove Park School and Peter Kyle MP for being prepared to engage in politics in a new way through this programme.

“The students had fantastic questions that kept Peter Kyle MP on his toes.”