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Brown to let young use commons benches
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Reading West MP, Martin Salter, has won a victory over the traditionalists in the House of Commons when Gordon Brown today announced his wish to change the outdated rules and allow young people who are members of the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) to meet in the Commons chamber in order to give them a taste of parliamentary life.
There is a centuries old tradition that only elected members of the House of Commons are allowed to actually sit on the green benches and this applies even to tour parties visiting the Palace of Westminster when the Commons is not sitting. In 2004, Martin Salter was one of the authors of the report of the Modernisation Select Committee, entitled “Connecting Parliament with the Public” which recommended that elected Members of the UKYP should be offered the opportunity to meet and debate in the chamber of the House of Commons. In his statement today on Constitutional Reform, the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, announced a wide range of initiatives as part of “a new British constitutional settlement that entrusts more people to Parliament and the British people”. Gordon Brown said: “All of us in this House would acknowledge there are very specific challenges we must meet on engaging young people and improving citizenship education -- and I hope there will be all-party support for a Commission to review this and make recommendations. And while the voting age has been 18 since 1969, it is right, as part of this debate, to examine, and hear from young people themselves, whether lowering that age would increase participation in the political process. And consultation will take place with you, Mr Speaker - and through the Leader of the House, this House - as to whether the Youth Parliament - and the Youth Parliament alone - should be invited here in this Chamber, once a year and on a non-sitting day.” Mr Salter said: "As a former member of the Modernisation Committee, and someone who has been pressing this issue for a number of years, I welcome the Prime Minister's acknowledgement that, apart from outdated and pointless traditions, there is no earthly reason why the excellent UK Youth Parliament could not have access to the Chamber of the House of Commons. "It is after all supposed to be the cockpit of our democracy and its doors should not be closed to the next generation of voters and citizens." He added: “It always seems a great shame to me that when young people or visiting parties come round the Houses of Parliament, they do not see it in action. They are actually seeing a building and seeing history—but this place is about making history, as well as a place where history was once made.” Kate Parish, UKYP Development Coordinator welcomed Gordon Brown’s announcement: “UKYP is extremely excited by the news that it may, in the not too distant future, be able to use the Chamber of the House of Commons for discussion and debate by young people, not just tomorrow's voters but today's citizens. "The unwavering support of MPs such as Martin Salter, to ensure that young people are heard and listened to by central government has been crucial in this process, and UKYP is committed to continuing to ensure that all young people, including those often denied a voice, are able to be heard at the heart of Government." Deputy MYP for Reading, Robert Sassoon said: “The UK Youth Parliament is dedicated to ensuring that young people have a voice in how this country is run. We have been right behind Martin Salter’s campaign to allow us to use the Chamber of the House of Commons when Parliament is not sitting. This would be a tremendous experience for young people and a huge boost to the UK YP. After all we will provide the next generation of MPs so why not let us into the place that some of us might well occupy in the future.” |
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