Youth MP for Bath and North East Somerset, Ed Joseph, has joined more than 250 elected members of the Youth Parliament at a national debate in the House of Commons.
The 11 to 18-year-olds discussed the living wage, work experience, the voting age and other issues chosen by a ballot of 876,488 young people, of which 5,000 young people from B&NES took part.
The event, in which 285 took part, marks the start of Parliament Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness about politics and democracy in the UK with this year’s focus will be on encouraging political engagement in young people.
More than 300 organisations including charities, schools, museums and community groups are involved in the programme of events.
Ed Joseph commented: “Going to the House of Commons to debate was one of the greatest privileges I have ever had.
“With an improvement to Mental Health services being our new national campaign, I think it will be a tough but rewarding year ahead and a campaign which will improve, if not save, the lives of millions of young people.”
The votes cast for the other topics were:
- Everyone should be paid at least the Living Wage: 156;
- Votes for 16 and 17 year olds in all public elections: 117;
- Better work experience and careers advice: 78;
- Bring back exam resits in English and Maths: 33;
A total of 285 Members of Youth Parliament aged 11-18 took part in the debates, the subjects for which were voted for by 876,000 young people across the UK in the annual UKYP Make your Mark Ballot.
Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson MP, who attended the debate, said: “Today we have seen Britain’s young people at their best – informed, articulate and passionate. You have demonstrated what Parliament and politics can be at its very best”.
Speaking on the topic of improving mental health services, the young person who introduced the winning debate, Francesca Reed, from the South West, said: “The bottom line is that mental health issues affect every single one of us, whether directly or indirectly through supporting a friend, and therefore we need mental health education to a be a compulsory part of the curriculum, and we need to be consulted on how mental health services should be improved.”