Media coverage of terrorist attacks theme for Dewar Debate final

Students from four Scottish schools will debate media coverage of terrorist attacks at the final of the Law Society of Scotland’s Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament.

Held in the Scottish Parliament's debating chamber tomorrow evening (4 June), the final will see the teams debate the motion "This House would restrict media coverage of terrorist attacks".

Contesting the top prize of a trophy and £1,000 for their school are:
Rachael Miller and Rhianna McGrath from Lanark Grammar; 
Jamie MacLeod and Ewan Redpath from Madras College, St Andrews; 
Anna Michels and Richard Montgomery from St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh; and 
David Cameron and David Laird from Prestwick Academy, one of a number of schools taking part for the first time this year.

To get to this stage the students have had to win through three previous rounds, tackling topics such as leaving the EU, abolishing immigration controls, and banning opinion polling in the month before a vote.

Runners-up will receive £250 from the Glasgow Bar Association. All finalists receive individual quaichs and certificates to commemorate their success, and tournament sponsors Hodder Gibson Publishers will donate educational books to the value of £500, to be shared by the winners and runners-up.

Laura Gulliver from the Education & Training team at the Law Society of Scotland said: “This is now the largest schools debating tournament in Scotland. Getting to the final is no small feat and the teams have done tremendously well. All of our finalists really had to think on their feet to get this far and they should be very proud of what they have achieved.”