Cllr Jean Carter
WARRINGTON’S next generation of voters gave the lie to the notion of political apathy when more than 5,000 of them took part in a national campaign to find their views on some of the burning issues of the day.
It resulted in local Member of Youth Parliament Rose Warburton ultimately finding her way to the dispatch box in the House of Commons.
Young people from Impact, Warrington’s Youth Council and 13 schools and colleges across the borough took part in the “Make Your Mark” campaign.
The campaign – the country’s largest youth consultation – asked the opinions of 11-18 year olds.
Rose was elected as Debate Lead with Youth Focus, the North West Regional Participation Team.
She attended the House of Commons with other Members of Youth Parliament from across the country to discuss and debate the results of the Campaign.
Rose led the debate with an impassioned speech about transport for young people – but she was not a newcomer to debating at the House of Commons, having given a speech in a debate marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, shown live on the BBC.
After leading the debate, she said: “The experience has been one of the best I have been lucky enough to have. I learned valuable skills in speaking, made life-long friendships with 14 others from each region of the country and have hopefully made the North West proud.
“I was sitting in the Prime Minister’s usual seat and when I stood up to walk to the dispatch box, I was terrified. But fellow MYPs were cheering so loudly to support me that I was worried my emotions would overwhelm me in such an amazing atmosphere.
“Looking back, I have learned that there is genuinely no better feeling than representing a generation to be proud of.’
Cllr Jean Carter, Warrington Borough Council’s lead member for Children’s Services, said: ‘To see so many young people engaged in the political process is very heartening indeed.
“At a time when so many speak of apathy in young voters, it is even more important that the voices of young people inform the future locally and nationally. We are very proud of Rose and all our young people.’
