AN ASPIRING politician has had a taste of the high life after appearing on BBC programme Question Time.

Holy Cross College student Tamoor Tariq (17) applied to be a member of the audience in one of the shows and was chosen for last week's edition.

He travelled from his home in Gigg Lane, Bury, to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where the show was filmed.

Discussing the week's most important political issues were the minister of state for industry and the regions Margaret Hodge MP, the shadow trade and industry secretary Alan Duncan MP, former newspaper editor Piers Morgan, the co-leader of the Green Party Sian Berry and the political lobbyist Colin Byrne.

As a member of the audience, Tariq made a comment about Patrick Mercer MP, who was forced to resign from his position as shadow homeland security spokesperson last week after talking about race in the Army.

After the programme, Tariq said: "I am very interested in politics and I was looking at the BBC's website when I found a form for people who wanted to be in the audience for Question Time. It was great to be there. I enjoyed debating the issues and interacting with the panel."

Appearing on the programme has left Tariq wanting more and he has already applied to be an audience member in a special edition of the show about Iraq.

He has also spoken to principal Mike O'Hare about the possibility of the Manchester Road college being used as a venue for future Question Time shows.