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Mount Pleasant pupils stage their own election day





Mount Pleasant election candidates (from left) Shaw, Ross, Liam, Jayden, Maree (winner) and Cody.
Mount Pleasant election candidates (from left) Shaw, Ross, Liam, Jayden, Maree (winner) and Cody.

Pupils at a Thurso primary school got a taste of the democratic process when they took part in a mock election.

Six candidates battled it out for the right to become MSP for the Mount Pleasant Primary School constituency.

They were P7 pupils Maree Ford (SNP), Jayden Imlach (Independent), Cody Macdonald (Labour), Shaw McIntosh (Liberal Democrat), Ross Smith (Conservative) and Liam Semple (Green).

They all gave speeches outlining their policies, ensuring they included national issues as well as covering local topics. Owing to social distancing restrictions they delivered these over a Google Meet to the whole school, with pupils watching from their own classrooms.

The candidates and parties were introduced by returning officers Jayden Mackay and Cally Sinclair.

Ballot papers were issued to each classroom and every pupil had a vote in Wednesday's election. Once collected and counted, the results were announced with SNP candidate Maree winning the seat.

Christine Firth, the P7 teacher and depute head, said: "The pupils worked extremely hard researching the policies, coming up with their own manifestos and writing their speeches.

"It was not easy to deliver speeches online but they all rose to the occasion. It was a successful election and they are now waiting to see what the results of the real election will be."


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