Hampton School students were told “the economy is in a terrible state” during a talk.

Mark Littlewood, director general of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), was speaking to an audience of about 800 boys last Monday as part of the Hanworth Road school's Talk series.

The former head of media for the Liberal Democrats and campaigns director of human rights campaign organisation Liberty criticised the previous Labour Government's policies.

He said: “Any individual acting like this is going to hit a problem pretty fast.

“Government projects are bad for the poorest in society.

“People should be taxed less and able to spend their money in a way that they see fit.”

The IEA is a think tank which advocates free market economics.

TV presenter Jeremy Paxman was also at the school last month as part of the same programme.

He was interviewed by student Charlie Parker and the Newsnight and University Challenge presenter discuss politics, education and his work in television.