POLITICS students at St. Ambrose College listened to the whys and wherefores of two MPs on consecutive working days at the Altrincham Catholic grammar school.

On a Friday, Altrincham and Sale West MP and chairman of the Conservatives' 1922 Committee, Graham Brady, gave the low down on life inside the Westminster bubble.

Then on the following Monday, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Mike Kane, now the shadow minister for international development, told of his circuitous entry into political life and his aspirations for modern Britain.

It was the first time a Labour MP had visited the grammar school in its 70-year history and Mike Kane initially focused on his unconventional route into politics via labouring on building sites to retraining as a primary schoolteacher, becoming a councillor and then heading a think tank for David Milliband.

He said: “Growing up my mother had multiple sclerosis and I was radicalised into politics through the issues of the disability. I saw how difficult it was for her to get the necessary support and I wanted positive change.”

He added: “I do not see any lack of interest in politics from today's young, though their interest might not translate into votes or, indeed, traditional party politics but into issues and matters of principle, such as the Green movement, the Charities' movement and the anti war lobby.”

Graham Brady said of his early political ambitions: “Margaret Thatcher was in Downing Street and her radical brand of conviction politics appealed to me. The creation of a more open, entrepreneurial society in which people could succeed by their own efforts, not because of family connections or wealth inspired me.”

St Ambrose has a strong representation Parliament as three former pupils are current MPs - Conservatives Paul Maynard and Damian Hinds and Liberal Democrat Greg Mulholland.