The Honorary Presidents

Following this year's AGM, the following MPs were re-elected as our Honorary Presidents. Each year three MPs, one from each of the largest three parties in the House of Commons, are elected to this position. They champion BYC's work to other parliamentarians, and try to highlight BYC's work and your voice to decision makers and the Government.

Name: Julie Hilling
Political Party: Labour
Constituency: Bolton West
 
A little bit about Julie: Julie was elected Member of Parliament for Bolton West in May 2010. She is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Rail, Youth Affairs, Children, Community & Voluntary Sector, Save The Pub and High-Speed Rail. In October 2010 she was appointed a PPS in Yvette Cooper's Women & Equalities team. Before becoming a politician, Julie was a Youth Worker in Nottingham, St Helens and Wigan.

Name: Jenny Willott
Political Party: Liberal Democrat
Constituency: Cardiff Central

A little bit about Jenny: She was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central at the 2005 General Election, and re-elected in the 2010 General Election. Jenny started her political career aged 23, when she was elected as a councillor in Merton. Jenny used to work for Barnardo's, Unicef UK, and for a charity in Northern India. Before she got elected to Parliament, she was head of Victim Support South Wales.

Name: Nigel Evans
Political Party: Conservative
Constituency: Ribble Valley

A little bit about Nigel: Nigel was elected to Parliament in 1992. Recently he said this about BYC: "Politicians often talk about engaging young people in politics and this is precisely what the British Youth Council does. It not only generates interest in political topics amongst young people but it also provides them with a voice."

"It was a pleasure to meet representatives of the British Youth Council recently. It is important that young people feel that there is a forum in which they can raise debate - MPs may not always agree with them but that is the nature of politics. It is imperative that there is open discussion and dialogue with young people and the British Youth Council affords them that opportunity."