Debating Matters at the House of Lords

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Students from The Ecclesbourne School were declared Debating Matters House of Lords Champions 2024 on Friday 15 March when sixth-form students from four schools battled it out for the title

Debate in the Lords

Debate is one of the main ways the House of Lords holds the government to account. Members of the Lords use their knowledge and experience during debates to discuss current issues and draw the government's attention to concerns.  

Students from around the UK experience this first-hand when they visit the House of Lords to take part in debating important topics.

Opening up the Lords

As part of the House of Lords engagement programme, this event connects members of the Lords with young people and opens up new ways of explaining the work of Parliament's second chamber.

Debate subjects

Students debated:

'Cancel culture is a threat to freedom of speech' (semi-final)
'Billionaires owning media companies is bad for democracy' (semi-final)
'Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts' (final).

House of Lords members will help judge the debates.

Schools

The students in the Debating Matters House of Lords Championship 2024 were from Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Gillingham School, Ecclesbourne School, and Gosforth Academy.