Former Euro MEP Lord Balfe has been putting sixth formers at Wisbech Grammar School in the picture about the work of the upper house.

Lord Balfe, who spent three years of his childhood living in Scrimshires Passage in Wisbech and now has a home in Cambridge, spoke about the role of the House of Lords and then fielded questions on the next election, London mayor Boris Johnson, Turkey’s human rights record and the representation of women.

As a Euro MP from 1979 to 2004 he took a particular interest in Foreign Affairs and in Turkey’s application for EU membership. In 2004 and 2007 he was an election monitor in the Ukraine.

A Conservative peer who has advised Prime Minister David Cameron on trade union matters, Lord Balfe previously worked in the European Parliament for many years.

Tim Chapman, head of politics, said: “The talk was interesting for all of the sixth formers and gave them a real insight into how a working peer operates.”