NIO Minister Kris Hopkins Visits Current Affairs Society

The school's Current Affairs Society members were delighted to welcome Kris Hopkins (MP for Keighley and Ilkley) earlier this week. The MP is also Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office, working alongside Secretary of State James Brokenshire as local politicians seek an agreement for the restoration of devolved government. Mr Hopkins spoke about his political experiences before answering a wide range of questions on topics as diverse as legacy issues in Northern Ireland, same-sex marriage, America’s response to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons, and likelihood of a return to Direct Rule. Mr Hopkins enjoyed his visit and spoke of his enthusiasm for his job in Northern Ireland, recalling how he served here as a soldier in the 1980s. He was delighted to meet with staff and students over coffee before conducting his live twitter stream on the visit in the school's Margaret Curry Library.