School leaver on Question Time

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Eighteen-year-old school leaver, Michael Heaver spoke out for young people on BBC One's Question Time on 10 July, 2008.

He condemned knife culture and challenged politicians over their expenses.

Michael Heaver won a competition to be on the panel alongside politicians Douglas Alexander and Iain Duncan Smith as part of this year's Schools Question Time.

The special programme with a youth flavour is made by the normal Question Time production team with the help of eight students who were nominated as winners of the 2008 Schools Question Time challenge.

Heaver had just finished studying for his A-Levels in Politics, History, Business, Media and English.

But he was not overawed by the presence of professional politicians. He won applause for his first answer, telling young people not to carry a knife and accusing politicians of "not giving a clear message".

"The message should be - if you go out with a knife and you get found, you will get put in prison," said Heaver.

In Pictures: Question Time panel audition

He also challenged former Conservative leader Iain Duncan-Smith over the expenses claimed by Tory MEPs.

Michael Heaver is a member of the UK Independence Party. He said he was "shocked" to have been chosen because he is a "maverick" and represents "a section of society that... tends not to vote and doesn't get represented in the political process".

David Dimbleby said Michael was a great candidate for the "people's panellist" as "he knows his own mind and is not afraid to express his own views."

TV auditions

The students set out to find a young person aged 18-21 to appear on the panel and represent young people.

David Dimbleby and Michael Heaver are interviewed on BBC Breakfast

"He was a natural debater and put his point across very clearly," said Hal Fraser from Gwernyfed High School in Wales.

Michael Heaver was chosen after a TV studio audition in the Question Time format chaired by David Dimbleby in which he debated with four other finalists.

The Schools Question Time audience was made up of young people aged 16-19. The student producers wanted young people to send in their ideas for topics to discuss on the programme.

Join the Schools Question Time debate

The Question Time panel competition involved applicants submitting a one-minute mobile phone video clip explaining why they should be given the chance to appear on the show.

THE FINAL FIVE

It was the third time a panel competition had been staged alongside the Schools Question Time programme.

The Schools Question Time programme was the final product of a far wider education initiative to help schools nationwide by supporting the citizenship curriculum, helping improve students' public speaking and listening skills and engaging young people in society and politics.

Schools across the UK, with pupils aged 14-19, were eligible to enter the challenge.

Participating schools were invited to plan a Question Time event, selecting topics and a panel to discuss the chosen issues.

Twelve schools were selected to stage their own local Schools Question Time events in front of a team of judges who selected the four winning schools.

Alongside the BBC, the Schools Question Time Challenge was supported by the Institute for Citizenship and BT.

Schools Question Time was broadcast on Thursday, 10 July, 2008 at 2235 BST on BBC One.