“On Friday 28 February, 244 of Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) aged 11-18 represented the views of their peers and hold debates on a range of topics”. The Parliament website UK Youth Parliament annual session 2025 – UK Parliament The feature includes results of their votes on a priority UK and Devolved campaigns, background information form Parliaments statement, links to the Parliamentary Library briefing, links to Parliament TV to watch again, and the current UK Youth Parlt Manifesto 2024-2026..
UK Youth Parliament debate UK Youth Parliament 2025 – morning session From 22 to 47 minutes of this YouTube recording . Lots of the speakers spoke as if persuading a Govt to decide to do this, though the target audience if probably the public and the media. The debate is significant in that the motion calls for BOTH political education and votes at 16 together. Perla Hardy speech on 28 minutes makes this point.
RESULTS
WINNER National UK-wide: Campaign Votes at 16 plus political education
WINNER Devolved England Campaign: Period Dignity
Morning (broadcast from 11.20) Chaired by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle topics for UK Campaign
- 16- and 17-year-olds should be allowed to vote in all elections and referendums, accompanied with more political education throughout school. VOTES 147 (UK National Campaign)
- From 22 to 47 minutes of this YouTube recording UK Youth Parliament 2025 – morning session
- That the National Minimum Wage for every worker under 22 be raised, to match the National Living Wage for those over 22 VOTES 97
Afternoon : Chaired by Deputy Speakers, three topics for Devolved England campaign only.
- All public transport should be free for young people. VOTES 45
- All young people in the UK must have access to a standardised level of political literacy and democratic education to improve engagement in politics on a local, national and international level to develop critical thinking skills. VOTES 75
- To establish period dignity, there should be free, accessible, good quality period products available in public spaces for everyone. VOTES 107 (Devolved campaign ENGLAND)
As well as being able to watch back the debates on Parliament TV , Hansard will also publish a record of the debates.
“The debate areas are part of the UK Youth Parliament Manifesto for 2024-2026 ‘Shaping Our Future, Today Not Tomorrow’ which was created by the MYP’s at their Annual Conference in October 2024, drawing on the views and issues raised by young people from across the UK.”
Young people from across the UK, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are due to return to talk about the key issues relevant to them. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons said that he is “very proud that this sitting of the UK Youth Parliament will be the most inclusive and exciting yet – I cannot wait to hear the thoughts and views of young people from across the UK, the British Overseas Territories, and the Crown Dependencies, on the issues that matter to them,”
Find more information about UK Youth Parliament from the House of Commons Library Research Briefing.
[Although funding from DCMS to NYA was initially for 24/25 (March25) its expected this will continue at least one more year pending the outcome of current spending review and DCMS Youth Teams consultation. Perhaps an announcement will be made today? Ed]
Following a welcome by Speak Hoyle, a letter from the Prime Minister was read out to the chamber
Summary
Following the Speakers welcome, Government Minister Rushanara Ali (Minister for Transport) welcomed young representatives to the chamber of behalf of the Government and confirmed that one of the key campaign asks – Votesat16 – was part of the Governments parliamentary programme. Young people speaking to this topic, knowing that the basic argument had been won after decades of campaigning, were keen to underline the need for legislation and implementation to include political and democracy education in school. This theme was underlined and developed in the afternoon debate called for ALL young people in the UK to receive a standardised level of political literacy and democratic education to improve engagement in politics on a local, national and international level to develop critical thinking skills.
The second topic – a call for an equal minimum wage for young people highlighted another decades old priority campaign for UKYP and the British Youth Council, to address the inequality of discriminatory payment for the same work, purely based in age rather than ability or experience in a role.
Free public transport is the third longstanding campaign, and was the topic of the first British Youth Council Youth Select Committee in 2012 (which included UKYP reps, Young Mayors, Youth Council reps and others from across the UK) which highlighted one of the most significant barriers to participation in opportunities – getting from A to B. Campaigns have had success in local areas, particular around bus travel and discount cards, but is clearly depending on postcode, particularly affecting those in rural areas.
The final topic of the day – Period Dignity- is a priority area which has had more prominence in recent years and has a specific ask for period products to be more available in public spaces. Some of the most powerful speeches empowering more conversations around women’s health
These topics mark a return to specific topical issues chosen by MYPs rather than generic areas of policy for these debates – and include detailed calls to action on issues that are at the forefront of young representatives concerns. They include the very act of being listening to in our democracy by those with power in politics – whether through the ballot box – or having the right to not only be included but to be educated and informed about how to engage in democracy. They include very practical policies on day to day injustices or barriers to participation. Issues – that if more young people had the vote, politicians might be more included to address. The topics were chosen by MYPs from the longlist in the latest Youth Parliament Manifesto 204-2026, (below) which includes more information about the operation of the Youth Parliament – the current national Youth Voice mechanism in the absence of a national Youth Council.
The other speakers today were the Shadow Leader of the House Jesse Norman MP (Cons) , who encouraged members of the Youth Parliament to remember three things using the letters : H.O.C. (House of Commons)
H – for History to emphasising the importance of politics to achieve consensus through debate – which you will take away.
O – Oratory – to practice your skills, transferable to all walks of life. Enliven and Engaging
C – Careers – future MPs ? I hope you don’t go into politics before going out to learn, work and volunteer to bring those experiences back to politics.
Closing speeches were also made by Josh Babarinde MP (Lib Dems) and Dr Lauran Sullivan MP (Lab), herself a former member of the Youth Parliament. She paid tribute to her youth service for encouraging her to get involved in the first place.
James C. Editor
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