Order, order! Bury elects its new Youth MP

Thousands of young people in Bury seized the chance to play their part in the democratic process.

They have elected a new student to represent the borough as Bury’s Member of Youth Parliament.

All schools and colleges in Bury set up polling stations and encouraged their students to vote in the elections.

The students, aged 11-19, had 16 candidates to choose from, who had spent weeks canvassing support from young people whether face to face or via social media.

All told, there were 7,649 votes cast on the big day, Thursday 28 February. 

Emily Kay of Bury CE High School received the most votes and will now be Member of Youth Parliament for Bury for two years. The candidates who came second and third will serve as her deputies: they are India Taylor, who is educated at home, and Laraib Zafar of The Derby High School. All the girls are aged 15.

Emily will represent Bury in the UK Youth Parliament at a local level, at a regional level and at a national level – later in the year she will attend the House of Commons to take part in youth parliament debates.

The results were announced on Friday 1 March by Councillor Nick Parnell, cabinet member for children and families, who acted as returning officer. Also present were the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Joan Grimshaw, and Mark Carriline, director of children’s services. 

Cllr Parnell said: “It’s great to see so many young people getting involved in issues that affect them. I’m sure that Emily will be a fantastic ambassador for the borough, ably assisted by India and Laraib.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 5 March 2013.

Picture attached: Bury’s new Member of Youth Parliament, Emily Kay (centre) with deputies India Taylor and Laraib Zafar.