There have been calls for the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to resign after they were both fined by the police for attending a party in No. 10 Downing Street during lockdown. This resources pack includes an article from The Week Junior magazine, along with a sheet of activities designed to get children thinking, talking and writing about what the story means to them.
Debate
The fuss over law-breaking social gatherings within 10 Downing Street during lockdown continues to rumble on. However, isn’t it time to stop asking whether Mr Johnson broke the ministerial code, because there are so many difficult problems facing the world today? Are some people just too important to be held to the same standards as the rest of us? Or do you think society depends on everyone following the same rules and facing the same consequences for breaking them? Surely, it is better to have second- or third-choice leaders than allow first-choice ones to feel they are above the law. What do you think?
Writing challenges
Imagine you are the presenter of a nature programme on TV. Write a David Attenborough-style commentary for a short documentary about a grown-ups’ social gathering.
OR
Imagine you are one of the police officers who stand guard outside 10 Downing Street. Write a diary entry for one of the nights when there was a lively gathering inside.
Investigate
Research UK Prime Ministers who have resigned (rather than being beaten in an election) since 1900. List five of them, giving the dates and reasons for their resignations. .
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download in our Topical Tuesdays collection.
What is The Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to complex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to The Week Junior website.