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Youth 'MPs' begin historic debate Speaker attacks 'poison' of BNP
(about 2 hours later)
Speaker John Bercow has welcomed hundreds of teenagers to the House of Commons, as they gather for a series of debates. Commons Speaker John Bercow won a standing ovation from members of the UK Youth Parliament after launching an attack on the "evil" of the BNP.
He said it was an "historic occasion", the first time any body of people other than MPs had debated in the chamber. He told them the BNP was a "poison which we could well do without".
Mr Bercow was speaking at the end of an historic day's sitting on which the Conmmons benches were occupied by non-MPs for the first time.
The 300 youngsters debated university fees, youth crime, public transport, the voting age, jobs and the economy.
Mr Bercow introduced the session with a speech on the importance of democracy - and praised the fact that the Youth Parliament was far more ethnically diverse and had more female members than the House of Commons.
Un-Parliamentary language
The 300 Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs) were elected by their peers.The 300 Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs) were elected by their peers.
Youngsters will debate university fees, youth crime, public transport, lowering the voting age, jobs and the economy in relation to young people. Mr Bercow presided over a series of lively and passionate debates - and only once had to tick off the youngsters for un-Parliamentary language.
Democracy 'alive'
Charity Mhende, 16, MYP for Solihull, said the debate was an "outstanding example of how democracy among young people is alive and kicking".
THE UK YOUTH PARLIAMENT MYPs are elected in annual youth elections across the UK.Anyone aged 11 to 18 is entitled to stand or vote.In the past two years, 1m young people have voted in elections.The debate, between 1100 and 1500 GMT on Friday, will be shown on BBC Parliament at 1630 Teen MPs put grown-ups to shameTHE UK YOUTH PARLIAMENT MYPs are elected in annual youth elections across the UK.Anyone aged 11 to 18 is entitled to stand or vote.In the past two years, 1m young people have voted in elections.The debate, between 1100 and 1500 GMT on Friday, will be shown on BBC Parliament at 1630 Teen MPs put grown-ups to shame
"Tackling debate topics such as tuition fees, transport, crime, the economy and lowering the voting age really shows that anyone who thinks young people aren't interested in politics is extremely misinformed," she said. Commons leader Harriet Harman began the session by welcoming the MYPs, telling the crowded chamber: "There's only one rule - enjoy it and don't be nervous."
Derek Couper, 18, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament whose 20 representatives are also taking part, said: "This event sends out a message to everyone that young people are passionate about key political issues." Funmi Abari, an MYP for London, introduced the first debate - on scrapping university tuition fees in England and Wales.
Mr Bercow said it would show youngsters how the work of the Commons was relevant to their lives. Opposing the move, she denied it would increase accessibility and said: "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Three young people will introduce each topic, one speaking for a viewpoint and one against, with the third summing up the issue. Voting age
Backbench challenge The MYPs also debated lowering the voting age to 16 and an impassioned speech from James Evans, from the south east of England, who said: "Are we mature enough to vote at 16? We are mature enough to leave home, go out to work, pay tax.
MYPs (Member of Youth Parliament) will then be given the opportunity to put forward their own opinions, speaking for up to a minute each. "At 16 we can marry our MP, sleep with our MP and we can have children with our MP. We can sign up in preparation to fight for and then potentially die for our MP.
People can follow proceedings via a live blog at the Youth Parliament's website. Debates will end with votes using the division lobbies. "And suddenly we are not mature enough to vote for them. What an absolute disgrace."
Why we are in the Commons
To cheers, he said: "It's time for Parliament to get its priorities right. Westminster should wake up."
Mr Bercow described this contribution as "as powerful a speech as I've heard in a long time".
But Jemma Karmaleeta Nye, from Wales, said giving the vote to 16-year-olds was "pointless". She said: "We need education to go with it."
'No obligation'
The session ended with Mr Bercow breaking the tradition which dictates the Speaker must be impartial by launching an attack on the BNP, who are not represented in the Commons but have recently gained two MEPs in Brussels.
He said during the youth debates there had been passing references to "the scourge of the BNP".
HAVE YOUR SAYWe've got to do everything we can to fire up interest in young people to get involved with the political process because when you look at issues like climate change they'll be the generation that will have to deal with the effectsJohn Prescott, Hull Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYWe've got to do everything we can to fire up interest in young people to get involved with the political process because when you look at issues like climate change they'll be the generation that will have to deal with the effectsJohn Prescott, Hull Send us your comments
And he insisted: "I'm under absolutely no obligation whatsoever to be impartial as between the forces of democracy on the one hand and the forces of evil on the other."
To applause, Mr Bercow added: "I do feel very, very, very strongly as someone from a Jewish background that the evil of the BNP is that its whole politics is based upon and driven by hate.
"That is a poison which we could well do without."
Ahead of the experiment, Mr Bercow said it would show youngsters how the work of the Commons was relevant to their lives.
Three young people will introduce each topic, one speaking for a viewpoint and one against, with the third summing up the issue.
MYPs were then given the opportunity to put forward their own opinions, speaking for up to a minute each. The debates ended with votes using the division lobbies.
Ten young people will report on the proceedings for the BBC's journalism project for young people, School Report.Ten young people will report on the proceedings for the BBC's journalism project for young people, School Report.
Earlier this year, a small group of backbench Conservative MPs led an attempt to keep the Youth Parliament out of the chamber.Earlier this year, a small group of backbench Conservative MPs led an attempt to keep the Youth Parliament out of the chamber.
However, it was allowed one-off access, following a similar event in the House of Lords in 2008.However, it was allowed one-off access, following a similar event in the House of Lords in 2008.
Commons Leader Harriet Harman, who is due to welcome the MYPs, said this week: "We need to do everything we can to increase the involvement of young people in politics."