A sixth form student at Wisbech Grammar School quizzed top politicians on BBC One’s Question Time last night.

A Level politics student Patrick Reeve, 17, asked if the Newark by-election result meant the end of the Liberal Democrats

(the Lib Dem candidate came sixth with 2.6 per cent of the vote).

The panel was made up of Iain Duncan Smith MP, the work and pensions secretary, Chris Bryant MP, the shadow welfare reform minister, Liberal Democrat MP Tessa Munt, Ian Hislop, editor of ‘Private eye’ and Salma Yaqoob, former leader of the Respect Party, who leads the ‘Hands off Birmingham Schools’ campaign group.

The event, at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, was attended by about 150 people.

Mr Reeve said: “I was a little nervous, but I had to get on with it really. They gave a decent response and I was quite happy with it.”

Head of history Sam Emerson also appeared on the programme, asking about British values in the light of the Birmingham schools controversy.

Head of politics Tim Chapman said: “The sixth formers got a real buzz from the event and were delighted to meet David Dimbleby afterwards.”