UK Youth Parliament looks set to be axed
Some say scrapping the parliament for 11 to 18-year-olds would be a blow for democracy, while others say it is overdue.
The UK Youth Parliament, launched in 2000 to engage young people in politics, is facing potential funding cuts. This annual body, consisting of over 300 elected members aged 11 to 18, holds debates in the House of Commons and receives £453,000 annually in taxpayer funding. However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has not committed to continuing the program in its current form.
Despite this, the government is developing a new scheme to increase young people's involvement in democracy and decision-making. Critics argue that scrapping the UK Youth Parliament would be detrimental to youth voice and democratic engagement, while supporters claim it is not providing value for money. The program has recently received criticism for low visibility among young people and exclusion from some schools.
Despite these concerns, supporters believe the UK Youth Parliament has successfully campaigned on issues like lowering the voting age to 16.
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