Our students were clearly exhilarated to have this opportunity to hear directly from those who have served as Prime Minister. It is one of the most demanding jobs in the world and enabled them to gain a real understanding of the people behind the headlines. To have the four former Prime Ministers speak to King's students within a single academic year is a real privilege.
Dr Jon Davis, Director of the Strand Group and lead teacher
29 March 2019
King's students learn from every living former British Prime Minister
David Cameron this week visited King’s College London, becoming the fourth former Prime Minister to share experience of life inside Number 10 with students at the university this academic year.
David Cameron this week visited King’s College London, becoming the fourth former Prime Minister to share experience of life inside Number 10 with students at the university this academic year.
Since October last year, those studying at King’s Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy have also been able to hear first-hand from Sir John Major, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair through a series of lectures and teaching sessions.
This means they have now heard from every living former British Prime Minister as part of their studies. In addition, postgraduate students have visited Number 10 Downing Street to hear from the Secretary to the Cabinet, Sir Mark Sedwill, and see behind the iconic black door for themselves.
During David Cameron’s visit to the university on Wednesday 27 March, he was introduced by King’s Principal Professor Ed Byrne then spoke about his experiences in office and took questions from undergraduates and postgraduates.
Students who attended the lectures and teaching sessions were all taking specific undergraduate and MA modules on the history of the Prime Minister and leadership since 1979. These are run by The Strand Group, through the Department of Political Economy, the School of Politics and Economics, and the Policy Institute at King’s.
These unique undergraduate and MA courses offered by the School of Politics and Economics at King’s provide students with a breadth of knowledge that enables them to go onto successful careers in politics, the civil service, journalism, consultancy, teaching and research.