“Through meaningful debate and campaigning, you champion the causes that matter the most to young people and help drive positive change in our society” The Prime Minister to members of the Youth Parliament, House of Commons, 6th November 2025 | Report and Reaction..
The Prime Minister’s message was read out by Esther-Grace McClean (MYP for South Antrim/pictured) to over 240 members of the UK Youth Parliament who had gathered in the House of Commons chamber to debate five key issues chosen from their latest Manifesto, by their Programme Committee: housing, health, employment, crime, and sustainability. They also made speeches of tribute and remembrance marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, and members representing the overseas territories and crown dependencies spoke to issues voted on by 5000 in a mini-Make Your Mark ballot.
“I’m honoured to send my warmest wishes as you gather for your 15th Annual Sitting in the House of Commons. The UK Youth Parliament stands as a powerful testament to the passion, commitment and vision of young people across our four nations and the British Overseas Territories. Your voices, elected by over a million* of your peers, are vital in shaping the future of our country. Through meaningful debate and campaigning, you champion the causes that matter the most to young people and help drive positive change in our society.
As you come together to choose your campaigns** for the year ahead, I urge you to speak boldly, listen carefully and work collaboratively. The issues you raise and the solutions you’ve proposed will help us form the national conversation and inspire leaders at every level. Thank you for your dedication, your energy and your belief in the power of democracy. I wish you a successful and impactful sitting. I look forward to the difference you will make.” PM Kier Starmer MP.
[* At the time of writing, we are trying to confirm what the actual national elections’ vote is, as the last time the figure of a million was reported was in the early years of UKYP when election statistics were collected and reported]
**Unlike past events where MYPs have voted to prioritise different campaigns, the debate during the November 2025 Annual Sitting featured MYPs putting forward their opinions on five different areas of debate, which all link to wider Committee Reports and as part of the second year of the UKYP programme/term. The Hansard from the debates will become an appendix of the reports and help to showcase a range of views on the issues being debated. The Programme Committee, as elected representatives for their region/nation, have selected housing, health, employment, crime and sustainability to be the five areas from the wider reports to be debated in the chamber” NYA/UKYP/comms.
Policy Motions
Housing – Everyone in the UK should have access to safe, affordable, and suitable housing, with local councils held accountable and measures taken to expand supply, improve quality, and support vulnerable communities.
Health – Young people should have free, accessible, and integrated mental and physical health services, with better support for addiction, early intervention, and increased funding for community-based youth services.
Employment – Work experience and career opportunities must be fair and accessible, with support for travel and accommodation, personalised placements, and a National Minimum Wage for under-22s equal to the Living Wage.
Crime – Tackling crime requires a combination of stricter penalties for gender-based violence and knife crime, early intervention, education on respect and consent, and investment in community programmes to keep young people safe.
Sustainability – Urgent action is needed to combat climate change through renewable energy, reduced fossil fuel reliance, plastic reduction, biodiversity protection, and promoting sustainable lifestyles for all
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: “Hearing young people give their views on 80 years since the end of the Second World War, as well as their concerns on housing, health, employment, crime and sustainability, is a great privilege for me. After all, in a healthy democracy, we need the next generation to share their opinions on the future”
The young reps were also welcomed and encouraged by MPs from the three largest political parties: Assistant Chief Whip, Gen Kitchen MP (Lab) and Anna Sabine MP (Lib Dem) spokesperson on DCMS matters (in youth) welcomed members at the opening session, and Shadow DCMS Nigel Huddlestone MP (Cons) closed the proceedings.
” Your voices and the young people you represent matter! You can play an important role in keeping us [accountable?] to address some of the biggest issues that we face together… These are uncertain times, and many feel isolated. They want their voices to be heard. You amplify their voices, and I’m sure that you will make a difference. Listen hard. Be open to having your minds changed and your thinking challenged. Be courageous in making your cases, find new solutions to complex problems – I know you will… ” Gen
“When you speak up, it reminds me of what’s at stake. Your campaigns show the power of your generation – practical, fair, determined and bold. Say what needs saying and keep going. You have our respect and you have our attention,” Anna
“I’m encouraged by your enthusiasm and confidence. The YP is a living example of dem in action, the courage of a generation, refusing to be silenced. Thank you for stepping forward, challenging, demanding to be heard, and showing leadership. Young voices have insight and impact. You deserve a stage. Your ideas matter. Your voice matters.” Nigel
The main ‘tributes’, ‘debates’ and ‘statements’, chaired by the Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the Commons, included many notable contributions which were well-researched and delivered with brevity and courtesy, something that many MPs could do well to take note of. I was particularly impressed with the speech and oratory skills of George Main Sin MYP from Brent, who concluded the debate on employment.
“We want a UK where parity of esteem is not just in our speeches but in our practice.. where we assemble a new coalition to bring government, young people and business together once more, built not on conflict or strife, but the belief that together we achieve more than we do alone; that despite a world still searching for direction, we show today that there are winds of hope blowing across these islands, because I refuse to accept that our tomorrows that cannot be better than our yesterdays.. and each of us has a personal responsibility to make it so.”
https://x.com/i/status/1986455055898202283
(Watch in full on Parliament TV, afternoon session at 15.03 pm)
Whilst most read from prepared statements, often direct from smartphones, it was great to see a few speaking without referring to notes, such as Louie Wild from Oldham on housing, or the powerful words of Dice Suter from Neath Port Talbot, calling for more early intervention for mental health conditions.
You can watch the debate in full on Parliament TV, and when Hansard publishes the official record of the day, their contributions will be added to supplement policy reports from the manifesto. It’s not clear when the Votesat16 petition will go live, and although the current contract between DCMS and NYA is due to expire in March 2026, and no national campaign has been selected for 2026/27, local areas across the country are holding elections for the next two-year term of 2026/2028. Perhaps the Government’s imminent Youth Strategy will throw light on the Government’s position on how and who it will engage as its main #youthvoice vehicle going forward.
Comment: I had hoped that the debates would conclude with a vote, because that would have added a level of excitement and anticipation to the day’s outcome. Previous UKYP sittings have listened to arguments for and against a motion, before the young MYPs trooped out to walk through the famous division lobbies to vote. This has been either on whether they agree with a policy motion to be included in the manifesto (which happened in the early years of UKYP Westminster debates), or to prioritise previously agreed campaigns for the following year, which appears to be what the PM had been expecting this year. However, because the five policy motions had already been updated and approved by the Youth Parliament’s annual conference for inclusion in the YUKYP manifesto, there was no need for a vote. The exception and one of the highlights of the day were the contributions of representatives from Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, where 5000 young people had taken part in a mini-Make Your Mark Ballot to choose ‘Access to Universities’, ‘Apprenticeships after school or College’, and ‘Physical and Mental Health’ for their reps to debate.
Was this an opportunity missed? The previous Commons debate in February had voted for Votes at 16 with political education to be the priority campaign for 25/26, and the UKYP campaign committee had decided to hold further consultation and to launch a petition to parliament to have a debate. Given that the Government announced in the summer that it was still planning to introduce legislation (in the coming weeks or months), and that Curriculum review has also concluded that political/democracy education should be introduced to schools, would it not have been a great opportunity to take forward UKYPs recommendations from a youthvoice perspective to inform and influence parliament’s legislation and guidance? JC/Ed
