UK Youth Parliament Election Underway

 

Young people across Sandwell are being urged to vote for their representative for the UK Youth Parliament.

Eight young people have been shortlisted and the two with the most votes will go forward to represent Sandwell.

Suhana Khanum, Mahmoud Suraj, Jessica Mansell, Steve Nimo, Josh Jordan, Raihannah Kulthoom, Shorob Ahmed and Alia McDonald have all submitted manifestos about what they would like to influence if selected.

Topics that are important to these young people include loneliness, mental health problems, exam pass rates, school exclusions and knife crime.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children’s services,  met the young people when they visited the council chambers in Oldbury. He said: “This is a great opportunity for these young people to represent Sandwell in the UK Youth Parliament.

“They all show a keen interest in politics and whoever our young people select during this election will do a great job in representing the area on a national level.

“I wish all the candidates good luck. I hope their campaigning for votes goes well and I look forward to the winners being announced.”

Polling stations will be in each town in Sandwell in both schools and youth clubs. In order to be eligible to vote, young people must live, go to school or work in Sandwell and be between the ages of 11 and 18. The polls will close on Thursday 7 February with the winner being announce on the evening of Friday 8 February.

For details go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/UKYPElections for more about the candidates and where to vote.