Members of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK in South Harrow marked UK Parliament Week 2025 with a mock election and two parliamentary-style debates, joined by the Mayor of Harrow and local MP Gareth Thomas.

The Shakti and Durga Branches of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (UK) in South Harrow marked UK Parliament Week 2025 with an ambitious, multi-stage programme. The event combined a mock election with live debate, giving members a hands-on introduction to how democracy works in practice.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK Welcomes the Mayor of Harrow and Local MP

The branches were honoured to welcome the Mayor of Harrow, Anjana Patel, and the MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, to the annual Parliament Week activity. Their attendance gave the event an added sense of occasion. It also showed the strong ties between Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (UK) and the wider Harrow community.

A Mock Election Brings Parliament Week to Life

To begin, members split into two groups. Each group then chose a party name and a leader, just as real political parties do. Next, every “party” picked an everyday issue to build a petition around.

The topics ranged widely. Suggestions included bigger buses and a ban on social media for under-16s. Each party then presented its petition to the whole group. They explained why the issue mattered, how their party would solve it, and who would benefit most.

After the presentations, members voted for the petition they felt most strongly about. For many, this was their first experience of voting in any form. As a result, the simulation proved both exciting and genuinely educational.

Top Petitions Become Parliamentary Debates

In the final part of the programme, the two most popular petitions became motions for two parliamentary-style debates. These were: “Should politics be a compulsory subject in school?” and “Should plastic on food products be banned?”

Both debates carried strong energy throughout. Members on each side argued their case with real passion, bringing the day’s mock-democracy theme full circle.