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| Teen MPs put grown-ups to shame | Teen MPs put grown-ups to shame |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| By Brian Wheeler Political reporter, BBC News | By Brian Wheeler Political reporter, BBC News |
| Polite applause after every speech? A complete absence of party political point-scoring? No juvenile barracking and name-calling? | Polite applause after every speech? A complete absence of party political point-scoring? No juvenile barracking and name-calling? |
| The Commons benches were packed - with Young People | The Commons benches were packed - with Young People |
| Can this really be the House of Commons? | Can this really be the House of Commons? |
| Any hungover journalists stumbling into the Commons press gallery earlier will have felt even more disorientated than normal. | Any hungover journalists stumbling into the Commons press gallery earlier will have felt even more disorientated than normal. |
| Not only were the famous green benches packed - the chamber is normally deserted on a Friday - but they were packed with Young People. | |
| That's right, Young People. More than one of whom was wearing a T-shirt. | That's right, Young People. More than one of whom was wearing a T-shirt. |
| In place of the normal Friday torpor, there was excited chatter. | In place of the normal Friday torpor, there was excited chatter. |
| In place of the ranks of paunchy, white middle-aged men, there was an appealing mix of sexes and races - and a far higher standard of haircut. | In place of the ranks of paunchy, white middle-aged men, there was an appealing mix of sexes and races - and a far higher standard of haircut. |
| For the first time in its history, the hallowed Commons chamber had thrown open its doors to non-MPs - 300 members of the Youth Parliament from schools and colleges across the UK to be precise - and they were clearly having a whale of a time. | For the first time in its history, the hallowed Commons chamber had thrown open its doors to non-MPs - 300 members of the Youth Parliament from schools and colleges across the UK to be precise - and they were clearly having a whale of a time. |
| 'Men in tights' | 'Men in tights' |
| The atmosphere beforehand, as the 11 to 18-year-olds gathered in the 800-year-old Westminster Hall was like a cross between a school trip and an X Factor audition. | |
| They chatted about how great it was to be part of an historic event. | They chatted about how great it was to be part of an historic event. |
| They whooped and cheered as they were called into the chamber by regional group. | |
| The Commons staff were pretty excited too - even if they had to put up with a bit of ribbing about their traditional garb. | The Commons staff were pretty excited too - even if they had to put up with a bit of ribbing about their traditional garb. |
| "A few of them have said 'are you one of the men in tights?' I said I will be wearing my sword as well later, so you'd better watch out!," said Lawrence Ward, the assistant sergeant at arms. | "A few of them have said 'are you one of the men in tights?' I said I will be wearing my sword as well later, so you'd better watch out!," said Lawrence Ward, the assistant sergeant at arms. |
| There is no thing, Mr Speaker, as a free lunch Funmi Abari, Youth Parliament member Youth 'MPs' begin historic debate | There is no thing, Mr Speaker, as a free lunch Funmi Abari, Youth Parliament member Youth 'MPs' begin historic debate |
| "I was one of the people who really thought it was good idea and pushed for it, although a couple of the kids said to me 'we think it is a total waste of money'! But most have been really positive. I think the Youth Parliament is fantastic." | "I was one of the people who really thought it was good idea and pushed for it, although a couple of the kids said to me 'we think it is a total waste of money'! But most have been really positive. I think the Youth Parliament is fantastic." |
| Commons speaker John Bercow, a prime mover behind this experiment, which was a far from popular with some of the more traditional-minded members, was also in his element, welcoming the Young People with a speech about the importance of democracy. | Commons speaker John Bercow, a prime mover behind this experiment, which was a far from popular with some of the more traditional-minded members, was also in his element, welcoming the Young People with a speech about the importance of democracy. |
| Commons leader Harriet Harman, spotted signing autographs, was also enjoying herself, as she welcomed the group to her beautiful home - "this is where Gordon Brown, the prime minister, sits," she explained, before crossing the floor to point out the other highlights of the chamber, ending her tour with: "And here we have got what is called the awkward squad, who give people a hard time when they are speaking." | Commons leader Harriet Harman, spotted signing autographs, was also enjoying herself, as she welcomed the group to her beautiful home - "this is where Gordon Brown, the prime minister, sits," she explained, before crossing the floor to point out the other highlights of the chamber, ending her tour with: "And here we have got what is called the awkward squad, who give people a hard time when they are speaking." |
| Scarily confident | Scarily confident |
| Funmi Abari, a member of the Youth Parliament from London, opened the first debate - on free university education - with an appeal for financial rectitude and self-reliance of a passion rarely seen since Margaret Thatcher stood at the same despatch box, years before Miss Abari was born. | Funmi Abari, a member of the Youth Parliament from London, opened the first debate - on free university education - with an appeal for financial rectitude and self-reliance of a passion rarely seen since Margaret Thatcher stood at the same despatch box, years before Miss Abari was born. |
| "There is no thing, Mr Speaker, as a free lunch," she thundered, arguing that free tuition would not widen access and that students should pay their way like everybody else, ending with a flourish: "Lowering fees to what they are actually worth? Hell yes, that's fair." | "There is no thing, Mr Speaker, as a free lunch," she thundered, arguing that free tuition would not widen access and that students should pay their way like everybody else, ending with a flourish: "Lowering fees to what they are actually worth? Hell yes, that's fair." |
| It was a barnstorming performance - and it was around this point a slight chill went through the press gallery as we wondered how many of the fresh-faced youths seated below us would be members of the Commons for real in 10 or 15 years. | It was a barnstorming performance - and it was around this point a slight chill went through the press gallery as we wondered how many of the fresh-faced youths seated below us would be members of the Commons for real in 10 or 15 years. |
| Almost without exception, the teenage MPs, most of whom were not old enough to vote, were articulate, passionate and scarily confident. | Almost without exception, the teenage MPs, most of whom were not old enough to vote, were articulate, passionate and scarily confident. |
| Oliver Rawlinson did a pretty good audition for the Tory front bench, with a homily on "Britain's broken society". | Oliver Rawlinson did a pretty good audition for the Tory front bench, with a homily on "Britain's broken society". |
| In fact, the biggest surprise of the morning session was how many of the youngsters were against free university tuition, particularly as the Parliament has been running a campaign in favour of it. | In fact, the biggest surprise of the morning session was how many of the youngsters were against free university tuition, particularly as the Parliament has been running a campaign in favour of it. |
| "You can not get anything for free in life, so why should tuition fees be free?," asked Kirsty Fisher, from Bolton. | "You can not get anything for free in life, so why should tuition fees be free?," asked Kirsty Fisher, from Bolton. |
| Why lock up someone who steals a packet of polos in the same cell as someone who steals a Volkswagen Polo at knife point? Chris Monk | Why lock up someone who steals a packet of polos in the same cell as someone who steals a Volkswagen Polo at knife point? Chris Monk |
| The language was a lot more colourful and expressive than you would find in a normal Commons debate - one girl asked why students had to "bust their humps for so many years" to get a degree - but the junior politicians also displayed a weakness for soundbites. | The language was a lot more colourful and expressive than you would find in a normal Commons debate - one girl asked why students had to "bust their humps for so many years" to get a degree - but the junior politicians also displayed a weakness for soundbites. |
| "It is time not just to consider Jo Bloggs, but Joanna Bloggs as well," cried one girl, eliciting a few groans from the press gallery. | "It is time not just to consider Jo Bloggs, but Joanna Bloggs as well," cried one girl, eliciting a few groans from the press gallery. |
| Others were clearly just enjoying a chance to have their say and enjoy their moment in the spotlight. | Others were clearly just enjoying a chance to have their say and enjoy their moment in the spotlight. |
| Chris Monk, from the West Midlands, earned praise from the speaker for his witty speech in favour of community service for young offenders ("Why lock up someone who steals a packet of polos in the same cell as someone who steals a Volkswagen Polo at knife point?"). | Chris Monk, from the West Midlands, earned praise from the speaker for his witty speech in favour of community service for young offenders ("Why lock up someone who steals a packet of polos in the same cell as someone who steals a Volkswagen Polo at knife point?"). |
| And in general the levels of sensible, level-headedness and mature debate on display will have been affront to those - often MPs - who view young people as a gang of knife-wielding hoodies with alcopop habits. | And in general the levels of sensible, level-headedness and mature debate on display will have been affront to those - often MPs - who view young people as a gang of knife-wielding hoodies with alcopop habits. |
| Indeed, by the end of the morning session, quite a few MPs had slipped into the chamber to watch the next generation in action. | Indeed, by the end of the morning session, quite a few MPs had slipped into the chamber to watch the next generation in action. |
| John Bercow introduced each one of them as they came in, not unlike a ringside announcer at a boxing match spotting celebrities in the crowd: "And here is the government chief whip, Nick Brown...." | John Bercow introduced each one of them as they came in, not unlike a ringside announcer at a boxing match spotting celebrities in the crowd: "And here is the government chief whip, Nick Brown...." |
| Mr Brown gave an awkward little wave. | Mr Brown gave an awkward little wave. |
| Perhaps he, like the other "grown-up" MPs in the chamber, was starting to feel more than little past his sell-by date. | Perhaps he, like the other "grown-up" MPs in the chamber, was starting to feel more than little past his sell-by date. |