MP Julie Kirkbride is the guest presenter of four live 30 minute political programmes being shown on national TV this week.

Powerhouse deals with news and current affairs and goes out on Channel Four at noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The Tory MP, who was involved with TV on the production side before being elected to parliament, said she was surprised at being asked to host the shows, but was eagerly looking forward to it.

With the aid of footage shot last week at South Bromsgrove High School, she proposed to devote one of the programmes to the government's funding of schools.

She also proposes to use the programmes to highlight parents' fears about the combined measles, mumps and rubella jabs.