Young People Put Local Councillors Under the Microscope
October 20, 2009 8:29 PM
Young people from Milton Keynes have been seizing the opportunity to put local councillors under the microscope this month.
'I'm a Councillor Get Me Out of Here', saw Councillors Rosemary Drewett (Liberal Democrat), Sam Potts (Liberal Democrat), Brian White (former Labour MP for North-East Milton Keynes), Janet Irons (Labour), Andrew Geary (Leader of the Conservative Group on Milton Keynes Council)and Edward Butler-Ellis (Conservative) quizzed on a range of different issues by secondary school students across Milton Keynes. They were then voted off one by one as students decided on the councillor who best represents their views. The event started on 5 October and ran for two weeks, with an eviction each day in the second week, before the winning councillor was announced.
For the two weeks of the event, young people used web technology to 'meet' local councillors from their area. They asked questions and had live chats with them, and then voted for their favourite to become 'youth champion' for the area.
MK Youth Cabinet member Alex Price, aged 17, said: "I'm a Councillor Get Me Out Of Here is a great opportunity for young people to understand more about the importance of politics and the impact it has on their lives."
The city's UK Youth Parliament Member, Teja Bapuram, also 17, added: "Young people are the future of Milton Keynes and we hope through this project councillors will listen to the views of young people."
The winning councillor, Liberal Democrat Sam Potts, commented: "I thank all those who took part in this important centrepiece of Local Democracy Week. It was a privilege to take part, and an honour to win. I have always said that the Liberal Democrats are the party for the young."
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