Keir tells kids: 'Put your fingerprints on future...'

LABOUR LEADER GRILLED BY YOUNGSTERS DURING VISIT TO M.E.N. OFFICES

- HELENA VESTY

MORE police, more mental health support for children in school, a clean-up of Westminster politics and dealing with drill music.

Sir Keir Starmer put forward his vision for a Labour future for Greater Manchester and the UK on a visit to the M.E.N.

He told local schoolkids to share their hopes, fears and aspirations so he can work with his party on a plan for prosperity, urging them: "Put your fingerprints on the future."

Sir Keir made his way up to the M.E.N. offices yesterday ahead of a widely-expected election later this year.

The Labour leader took part in a Q&A session, with NHS consultants, charity workers, teachers and some of Manchester's foremost legislative campaigners such as Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, killed in the Manchester Arena bombing.

Students from schools around Greater Manchester also quizzed Sir Keir on a range of topics.

If he does succeed when the country goes to the polls, how does Sir Keir intend to deal with the cost-of-living crisis that sees youngsters like them struggle to make the dream of university a reality?

How does the former director of public prosecutions and head of the Crown Prosecution Service plan to make them feel safe going to and from school when the threat of knife crime is always looming?

And what does he think should happen in the online sphere, where kids are exposed to harmful content which they say is rapidly becoming 'normalised'?

Here's what Sir Keir was asked and how he responded...

'MORE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS' 

Manchester Academy student Ayat asked if the Labour leader thought schools were adequately funded, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. In short, no, said Sir Keir.