New voice for youth (From Warrington Guardian)

New voice for youth

YOUNG people came out in force to elect a new voice into the UK Youth Parliament.

A massive turnout - 82.35 per cent of those eligible to vote - ensured 17-year-old Rory Turnbull was appointed as the leader of Halton Youth Parliament.

Rory, a former pupil of Wade Deacon High School in Widnes, will be assisted in his duties by runner-up and new deputy leader, Terri Maginess, 16, of The Heath School, Runcorn.

Council leader Tony McDermott, who attended the count ceremony at Halton Stadium last week with Mayor of Halton, Cllr Peter Lloyd Jones, told the audience: "The UK Youth Parliament is a chance for young people to become more involved in the democratic process, and Halton's candidates have taken this opportunity to do something about the issues they feel affect them."

UKYP was set up with the intention of giving people between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice that will be listened to by local and national government.

More than 5,000 youngsters throughout Runcorn and Widnes voted in the elections, choosing from 10 candidates for the post, with pupils at Cavendish School recording the highest turnout of 95.1 per cent.