Young People: Government Policy

Baroness Taylor of Bolton Excerpts

Thursday 31st October 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The noble Lord might have to wait until that comes up through the legislative process to have a further debate on that point.

[Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Lab)]

Will my noble friend the Minister look at the recent experience of the Hansard Society—I declare an interest as the chair—in running mock elections with many schools in this country at very short notice and developing a comprehensive and effective way of engaging young people in our democratic process?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My noble friend makes a valid point. From my own experience, my first formal political engagement was through the democratic process when I voted for the first time as an 18 year-old. But we had had a youth election at the school. I am not sure I won it, but it is a really important way and I pay tribute to everybody, including schools, who managed to put together mock elections at such short notice.