Pendle MP, Andrew Stephenson, has joined over thirty other MP’s to show support for an initiative that gives young people a role in Parliament.

The new Youth Select Committee is made up of eleven young people aged 12 to 18 elected to hold inquiries into issues decided by a poll of tens of thousands of young people. One of those elected is from Lancashire. The first topic for discussion was access to public transport and the Committee has already interviewed Government Minister, and transport bodies like Transport for London (TfL).

Andrew, who is the Conservative Party Vice Chairman for Youth Affairs and also one of Britain’s youngest MPs, welcomed the set up saying; “This is a great way to give young people a real voice in Parliament, and help young people get engaged with politics. Select Committees are one of the best ways MPs have to get at the truth in matters of public interest, so it is ideal that young people now have the same power to look at issues that affect them.”

The Committee was set up after pressure from the British Youth Council, the group behind the UK Youth Parliament, and got the go-ahead in April.  Andrew said:  “Credit must go to the British Youth Council and to Parliament for making this happen. It is a great idea and shows how enterprising young people are able to be right now.”