Huge Turnout for Bury Youth Parliament Elections

Date published: 12 September 2008

Bury is celebrating national success in the elections to the United Kingdom Youth Parliament (UKYP) after the borough registered the tenth highest turnout figure.

The UKYP elections took place back in March 2008, but careful analysis of the results shows that 6775 of Bury’s young people voted in the election. This is a turnout of 34.88 % and is almost 12% more than last year.
Across England 1625 candidates took part in the UKYP elections and 559,855 votes were cast. Elections take place each year and any young person aged 11 to 18 can stand or vote in UKYP elections. The Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) and Deputy Members of Youth Parliament (DMYP) represent every Local Authority in the country.

In Bury 11 candidates contested the election and Catherine Rawsthorne from Holy Cross College was elected as Bury's Member of Youth Parliament for the second year running with 1500 votes. Her deputies are Max Sampson from Woodhey High School and Umar Mukhtar from Holy Cross College.

Since being elected Catherine has met with The Prime Minister and cabinet members the Rt. Hon. Ruth Kelly MP, who is Secretary of State for Transport, and the Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP, the Secretary of State for Children and Families.

Catherine, Umar and Max have travelled all over the country meeting other young people and campaigning to make positive changes. They have organised conferences about transport and community cohesion. Later this month Catherine has been chosen to represent UKYP at the Labour Party Conference.

Councillor Diana Ashworth, Executive Member for Children and Young People, said “I am very proud of the work that these young people are doing and think our election results send a clear message that young people in Bury want to have their say about issues that affect them”.