The UK's first Green MP Caroline Lucas visited Varndean School today to meet for a Question & Answer session with the school's Student Cabinet.

During the school's mock election on 4th May, the Green Party was supported with an overwhelming majority by the student body so when Caroline Lucas was famously elected to represent Brighton Pavilion she was immediately invited to meet the students.

Topics covered today included how Caroline proposed to make a difference being a lone voice for the Green Party in Parliament; why she thought there were so few women in Parliament; how to make old school buildings more environmentally friendly and why she thought Brighton was the first to vote the Green Party into Parliament.

Answering the last question she noted: "Brighton is an intrinsically unique place and wants to be ahead of the curve. It is a city at the forefront of change and enjoys being different.

Lots of people also move to Brighton as they want to be a part of that culture - it is a tolerant city and has a young demographic which all contributed to me becoming an MP here, plus it a politically aware city."

During the Q&A session, Caroline Lucas criticised the current coalition government for cutting public spending and said she believed the country's debt was being used as an excuse to make further cuts.

She cited the Labour government after WW2 as having a bigger debt, yet it created the National Health Service as a worthy example of investing in the state at a time of economic crisis.

She also talked about a ‘typical day' in Westminster and in her constituency and said she advocated lowering of the voting age to 16.

Caroline Lucas noted that she was very impressed with the quality, depth and maturity of the student's questions.

During her time at Varndean, she also visited the school's Eco Quad to see how its permaculture project was working and met with William Deighan, Headteacher.

Commenting on Caroline Lucas' visit he noted: "I am really appreciative that Caroline was able to give of her time to speak directly to our students about their concerns and their intense interest in sustainable living. I know that the students enjoyed meeting her very much, as did I."

Caroline Lucas visited Varndean School on Friday, 9 July 2010.

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party Office on 01273 766 670.