news story

10th September 2008

Young People Quiz Visiting MP at Chipping Sodbury

Jo Swinson MP, Steve Webb MP, members of the UK youth parliament and other local young people who attended Monday's meeting

A well attended public meeting in Chipping Sodbury this week saw visiting MP Jo Swinson being quizzed by sixth formers and students from across South Gloucestershire.

The event was organised by Northavon MP Steve Webb, and the audience comprised a mixture of local Lib Dem councillors and campaigners and young people with an interest in politics.

Jo Swinson, who at the age of 28 is Britain's youngest MP, spoke about how she got involved in politics and the difference that young people could make. She highlighted in particular the Lib Dem policy to tackle student debt which young Lib Dem party members got adopted and which was then put into legislation in Scotland.

There was then a lively question and answer session where the MP answered questions on a wide range of topics including the best and worst things about being an MP and education options for teenagers.

Attending the debate were politics students from Yate and Chipping Sodbury, local members of the United Kingdom Youth Parliament and two local students - Tom Parker and Phil Reed - who will be attending next week's Lib Dem conference for the first time using a bursary funded by Monday's meeting.

Commenting after the meeting, Steve Webb said:

"It was great to see so many young people at the meeting. Many of them said to me afterwards how much they had enjoyed it, and some are definitely going to try for a career in politics when they finish their studies.

"Jo Swinson gave an inspiring talk which reminded everyone that what matters is what you have to contribute and not simply the age on your birth certificate. We need people of all ages involved in our politics and Monday's meeting was an encouragement to local young people to get stuck in".