A former health secretary in Tony Blair’s government was quizzed on scandals, politics and young people in Parliament by inquisitive students.

Alan Milburn met with A Level politics students at William Morris Sixth Form on Tuesday (April 29) where he was given a grilling worthy of a parliamentary debate.

The 17 and 18-year-olds asked him a variety of questions about his time as a cabinet minister in the former Labour government, the MPs expenses scandal and how to engage more young people in politics.

They also grilled him on whether there is much of a difference between the Conservatives and Labour anymore and what his role in the decision to invade Iraq was.

Mr Milburn is now chair of the Commission to Improve Social Mobility and Reduce Child Poverty where he advises the coalition government. He also met up with A Level sociology students on Tuesday who discussed how government policies are impacting on these two issues and what measures could and should be taken.

Answering all the questions with a great amount of frankness, he gave students an amazing insight into what politics is really like at the very highest level.

Kevin Gilmartin, principal at William Morris, said: “It was very generous of such a busy person as Alan Milburn to give an afternoon of his time to work with our wonderful students. Hopefully with the A Level exams just a few weeks away, and the students all aiming for top university places, this has provided that little bit extra to help the students achieve the very best grades and help to improve social mobility in our very own corner of west London!”