Martin wants youth vote! (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

Martin wants youth vote!

January 29, 2007 5:14 PM

Cheltenham-born MP Martin Horwood has strongly backed Cheltenham school students standing in nationwide Youth Parliament elections. School pupils as young as 11 can vote for their representatives each year and the elected Members of the Youth Parliament are expected to put young peoples' views across to councillors, MPs and officials.

This year's candidates came from National Star College and Balcarras School. "People often say young people don't care these days" said Martin "but this shows just the opposite". Amongst issues raised by last year's Youth MPs:

• The need for better, cheaper public transport for young people in Cheltenham

• The need for better, less embarrassing sex education in schools

• Calls for votes at 16 to teach political participation early and force politicians to go and listen to young people's concerns