Young politicians elected to Parliament
Warwickshire’s election day for young people saw four budding politicians win seats at the UK Youth Parliament.
Ben Wesson, aged 15 from Warwick district, 16-year-old Mohammed Sheikh and 17-year-old Aniqah Vorajee from Nuneaton and Bedworth, and South Warwickshire’s James Handy, 15, were elected as the county’s new Members of UK Youth Parliament (MYPs).
A total of 6,285 votes were cast – up 19 per cent on last year’s turnout of 5,109 – using a new system of text and internet voting plus traditional ballot boxes.
The results were announced at De Montfort Hotel in Kenilworth on Saturday (February 9) by Returning Officer and Warwickshire’s Head of Division for Young People, Hugh Disley.
Selected from a slate of 27 candidates, the four MYPs and four Deputy MYPs will now take their seats to represent their peers over the next year.
During their term of office MYPs represent the views and interests of young people in their constituency, both locally and nationally, by meeting councillors, MPs and other decision makers to take forward issues of local importance. Last year’s MYPs brought three national campaigns to the fore including votes at 16, cheaper transport for young people and better relationship and sex education. They also contributed to the debate on climate change and attended the annual sitting of Youth Parliament in Glasgow, in addition to regional meetings with other MYPs.
The elections are organised by Warwickshire County Council’s Youth and Community Service. Campaigning started in January and votes were cast from between February 1-8 by text message, online voting or by visiting polling stations in schools and youth centres across Warwickshire.
The full list of young people elected as Members of Youth Parliament is:
MYPs
Ben Wesson (15) from Warwick district
Mohammed Sheikh (16) from Nuneaton and Bedworth
Aniqah Vorajee (17) from Nuneaton and Bedworth
James Handy (15) from South Warwickshire
Deputy MYPs
Suzanne Gardener (15) from Rugby
Kiran Barhey (15) from Rugby
Mohammed Patel (15) from Nuneaton and Bedworth
Katie Savage (17) from South Warwickshire