Aston: Ashley heads to Westminster for Youth Parliament debate at the House of Commons

National Youth Parliament member Ashley Gregory has been taking part in a debate at the House of Commons in Westminster.
National Youth Parliament member Ashley Gregory, from Aston, and fellow member for Rotherham Toni Paxford, took part in a debate at the House of Commons in WestminsterNational Youth Parliament member Ashley Gregory, from Aston, and fellow member for Rotherham Toni Paxford, took part in a debate at the House of Commons in Westminster
National Youth Parliament member Ashley Gregory, from Aston, and fellow member for Rotherham Toni Paxford, took part in a debate at the House of Commons in Westminster

Ashley, 17, from Aston, and fellow Youth Parliament member for Rotherham Toni Paxford, 16, from Kimberworth, joined almost 300 other young members at the debate to to decide the UK Youth Parliament’s priority campaigns for 2016.

Toni also had the privilege of being chosen to represent the Yorkshire and Humber Region in delivering a speech about the Magna Carter at the Dispatch Box in the House of Commons.

Working together to combat racism and religious discrimination, particularly against people who are Muslim and Jewish, has been chosen as the issue as UKYP’s national campaign for 2015.

And mental health was chosen as the UK Youth Parliament’s priority campaign for England.

These motions were two of five debated by Youth Parliament in the House of Commons under the stewardship of the Speaker of the House of Commons the Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP.

Youth Parliament members voted to work together to combat racism and religious discrimination, agreed that everyone should be paid at least the Living Wage, that mental health services should be improved with their help, to call for a curriculum to prepare us for life and make public transport cheaper, better and accessible for all.

A total of 279 Members of Youth Parliament aged 11-18 took part in the debates, the subjects for which were voted for by 969,992 young people across the UK in the annual UK Youth Parliament Make Your Mark ballot.

“Welcoming the Youth Parliament for their annual sitting in the has become one of the House of Common’s most pleasant traditions,” said Mr Bercow.

“Almost a million young people across the United Kingdom participated in this year’s vote.

“I am pleased that they are taking advantage of the opportunity to make their voices heard in the heart of democracy in ever increasing numbers.”