Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield and Eastwood, had planned to join 3rd East Kirkby Scouts Group at one of their evening walks this year, but due to Covid-19 restrictions the event had to be postponed.

However, when Scout Leader James Green, asked Lee to instead join the Scouts on Zoom for a virtual local quiz, the MP jumped at the chance.

This time of year would normally be a busy period for the Scouts with typical activities including poppy selling, bag packing in the local Morrisons store and holding a Christmas Fayre. The Scout group is normally based at the Brownsea Centre, Kirkby, but in recent weeks has been holding its sessions remotely, meaning that the Scouts can still meet up.

The quiz was highly competitive with each Scout wanting to win. Questions included identifying photographs of Kirkby buildings, what is now in the Salvation Army building and naming five local parks. The most popular question of the night was to identify where the ‘height of fashion’ Christmas jumper could be purchased.

After the quiz Scouts asked the MP a series of questions. Scout leader James asked Lee if he had broken any rules in Parliament and the MP admitted to recently being told off for wearing a Mansfield Town scarf during a Parliamentary session.

Lee said: “I had a great evening with 3rd East Kirkby Scouts Group. What a fantastic group of young people and helpers. They are truly making the best of things. I told them that I am incredibly proud to represent Ashfield, the only MP to have been born here and educated here. While I enjoy my time in Parliament, the best thing about being the MP is when I get to come back to Ashfield. It really is a privilege to be the voice of the people you’ve know all your life.”