UK Youth Parliament have chosen to focus on lowering the voting age to 16 and a curriculum for life in 2018. The decision came following the UK Youth Parliament’s ninth House of Commons debate which was chaired by the Speaker, Rt Hon John Bercow MP. The issues were two of five topics debated by Members of Youth Parliament on Friday 10th November 2017.
Votes at 16 continues to be an important issue for young people and has been voted as a campaign priority for the second year in a row. Ayesha Khan, aged 17, Member of Youth Parliament for Peterborough who spoke on the issue of lowering the voting age said “Votes at 16 is a pressing issue of paramount importance. I really don’t think we should confine the liberty of voting to 18 and above. Today’s event shows that young people are engaged. I sincerely hope that the decision makers recognise the talents and abilities of young people and take progressive action on the issue of votes at 16.”
David Abadir, aged 18, Member of Youth Parliament for Cardiff, who spoke on a curriculum for life which was chosen as the priority campaign for England, said: “I’m really excited to see that young people have prioritised a curriculum for life, because by addressing this issue we can go on to effectively address many of the other issues discussed today and we make Britain a better place for young people!”
Members of Youth Parliament are set to formally launch the campaigns during their day of action in January 2018. UK Youth Parliament will now begin to develop actions for the campaigns ahead.
