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Youth parliament 'made history'

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By Harry Carter - 9th November 2009

Young people from across the UK made history on October 30 by sitting on the green benches in the House of Commons, something never done before by non-MPs.

I was one of them.

I am a member of the UK Youth Parliament, a democratically elected body representing youngsters from 11 to 18 years old.

We debated issues such as the abolition of tuition fees, job opportunities, votes at 16, transport and youth crime, watched by Harriet Harman, the Leader of the House.

Also there were shadow deputy leader Shailesh Vara and the Lib Dem business manager David Heath - Lib Dem Leader of the House.

It was not just MPs who were paying attention. BBC Parliament broadcast our debates live and the national press and radio stations also covered the event.

Myself and the other members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) had to decide on an issue to be our campaign priority over the next year.

Votes at 16 won by a rather large majority.

We heard arguments such as ''we can pay taxes, get married, fight for our country, and yet can't vote on how our taxes are paid and can't vote on whether to go to war''.

Others claimed: ''young people don't know enough about politics and parties to vote''.

A small number of MPs tried to block the Youth Parliament from sitting in the Commons - however they were heavily defeated in a vote in March.

Speaker John Bercow had, from the beginning, showed his clear support for the UK Youth Parliament to sit in the chamber.

For me, the event showed how young people can bring across their constituent's views in one of the most famous debating chambers in the world.

It showed how we can perform better than some of today's politicians, and how we can make simple and intelligent arguments that can change the face of young people in politics.

The Youth Parliament was set up in 1997.

It uses the creative passions of young people to enact social change and has, in the past, worked tremendously hard in campaigning for compulsory sex and relationship education, compulsory political education, national concessionary travel cards for young people, the abolition of tuition fees and many more young people related issues.

Harry Carter is an MYP for Sheffield. Visit his Facebook pagehere.

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Article Comments

Currently I believe that 16 year olds should not be able to vote. The main argument for 16 year olds to not have the vote is 'they don't know enough about it.' For me that presents a much more logical process to carry out than stopping 16 year olds from being politically active, TEACH THEM MORE ABOUT IT.

All schools have some form of general studies/PSHE time in which they spend time looking at a range of subjects such as drugs, bullying, alcohol and sex. While I believe those subjects are very important to teach children about, I do not see why politics can't be added into that, with the addition of a politics course being made available to all schools for all ages. Many sixth forms and colleges offer A levels in Government and Politics. However by the time the average student has learnt the basics of the Uk's political system they are nearly 17 and can vote with in one year anyway.

Still, I believe more political teaching should be introduced no matter what happens to the voting age, and if the age does lower to 16 many teenagers will be more inclined to become involved as they are being given a chance to physically do something, instead of learn from a text book.

This would help raise levels of civic engagement, and reduce the power of the media in producing report after report scrutinising the government on every little detail just because it sells better than a report that promotes the positive actions the government has taken. With people more aware they can make more informed decisions and citizens can feel they can actually make a difference.

Ben
17th Nov 2009 at 11:39 pm

So you think you should have the vote @16.
Just wait until you are a bit older,you will then see why not.When you are young you think you know a lot more than you do.
I can see why Nulabour want it,they think the young are more likely to vote for them.
I know it's no good trying to tell you this
but i bet when your older you will agree.

Daisy
9th Nov 2009 at 11:44 am



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