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Everything is up for debate
IT'S a dark, wet Tuesday afternoon and most of South Yorkshire's teenagers have probably dashed home to put the telly on or natter to their mates on Facebook.
But nestled around a table in a city centre boardroom are members and deputies of Sheffield's Youth Parliament.
Here, amid cake, crisps and a bottle of lemonade, sit Sheffield's teenage equivalents of MPs Nick Clegg, Clive Betts and Meg Munn.
The Youth Parliament have no legislative power and are not aligned to any political parties, but they are a significant pressure group with 600 MYPs who are elected in annual polls across the UK.
In the past two years alone, one million young people have voted in the Youth Parliament elections.
Once elected MYPs, like professional politicians, run campaigns and influence decision-makers on issues that matter to young people.
Emma Fiddler is one of Sheffield's MYPs. Only three weeks ago, the 16-year-old Park Academy student appeared in the House of Commons along with 300 other 11- to 18-year-olds to debate issues including tuition fees, lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, tackling youth crime and addressing jobs for young people.
The event was unparalleled in history, as the Speaker John Bercow, MP for Buckingham explained: "This is an historic occasion. It is one I hope you will enjoy and all of us will treasure. On March 13 this year, Parliament decided this great event should take place. In the whole history of the House of Commons, you are the first body of people other than Members of Parliament themselves to be allowed to use this Chamber."
The significance of the occasion was very much felt by Emma.
"It was really terrifying!" she said. "I sat on the front bench and before we went into the House of Commons I had a meeting with David Blunkett, he paid for my tea and coffee and gave me some public speaking tips.
"He said, 'When you're speaking, speak slowly, and focus on one person'. He said he used those tips himself when he first came into politics."
The Speaker asked those who wanted to debate to stand or, if in a wheelchair, to raise their arm.
"I stood up and down like I had a wasp in my pants!" said Emma. "I was excited and nervous. I kept thinking, 'What if I get tongue-tied?'"
Harrison Carter, 16, another Sheffield MYP, travelled with Emma to the Commons. Neither Harrison nor Emma was chosen to speak at the debate, though he was interviewed live on BBC Radio 4's Today programme before appearing in parliament.
Speaking of the Youth Parliament, he said: "What we want to say is, 'Look, young people have a message, and we can put this on a national stage and see what decision makers want to do about it.'"
Other members of the Sheffield's Youth Parliament include deputy member Jonathan Buchsbaum, 17, who is studying for his A levels at King Edward's School in Broomhill. Asked the most pressing political issue today, he says: "The provision of energy for the future."
Jonathan says he has always been interested in politics. "I got involved with the school council. I had never heard of the Youth Parliament until I saw a leaflet in school.
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Latest sport My friends and people at school think the Youth Parliament is a good thing although they were a bit sceptical at first. I tried to make them understand how you can affect politics by being in a pressure group.”
Jonathan admits he would like to be a politician, though he says all politicians should serve time in other industries.
He said: “I would actually like to be a politician but I would hate to be a career politician.
“I think you should start off somewhere else first, and approach politics with a more rounded perspective – otherwise it’s hypocritical to tell other people how to live.
“I personally think the minimum age for becoming a politician should be 35 to 40.”
As for which party he wants to win next year’s General Election, Jonathan is tight-lipped.
“I can’t tell you that – but I’ll definitely be voting.”
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
