Leeds schoolgirl joins Parliament aged just twelve

Lucy McLean is going to Downing Street after becoming an MP – at the tender age of 12.

The Leeds schoolgirl was voted in despite being the youngest candidate in an election at Farnley Park High School.

She won her fellow pupils' backing in the contest to be part of a UK Youth Parliament.

This was set up in October 1998 and aims to give young people in the UK a voice which will be listened to by Government, by providers of services for young people and by other agencies.

Lucy and two other Farnley Park students will visit Downing Street on Thursday and will also tour the House of Commons.

They will be among youngsters at a tea-time event for school children hosted by Cherie Blair. Husband Tony is also hoping to make an appearance.

John Battle – MP for Leeds West – put the Farnley Park pupils forward for the Downing Street visit as part of a series of Mrs Blair's come-and-see-us sessions.

With Lucy will be Steven Harrison, 13, who came second in the school election.

Also there will be 13-year-old Stephanie Gaunt who gained a specially-created school certificate for gaining more merits than anybody else in her year group.

School head Sue Lynes is also going.

Mr Battle, who said he wanted the youngsters to get a taste of the Commons as well as of Downing Street, said: "I first went to Parliament when I was a councillor in my 20s with some Leeds tenants.

"I sat in the public gallery and one of them nudged me and said: 'You should be speaking in this debate.' I would like to nudge these youngsters in the same way."

Lucy's deputy head, Deryn Porter, who organised the school election, said: "People talk about young people being apathetic.

"My experience is that if you offer manageable experiences, they seize on those opportunities. "From the confidence they gain they can go on to other things."

© YEP 21 May 2003