10-year-old speaks in Parliament
On Friday 28 February more than 300 young people were in Parliament instead of the UK's politicians.But don't worry they aren't taking over - they had permission to be there. They were in the House of Commons chamber for the day for the 14th sitting of the UK Youth Parliament. The debate included young people of all ages, but one young person, 10-year-old Owen, made history. He became the youngest person EVER to deliver a speech in the House of Commons Chamber.
The young people are Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs) and are elected to represent the views of other young people in the UK in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.Owen, who is 10, is from one of the British Overseas Territories- Tristan da Cunha.Tristan da Cunha is a tiny island in the South Atlantic, 1,750 miles from Cape Town in South Africa.It has a population of 230 people with one school, one pub, and no restaurants.
What are British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies?British Overseas Territories (BOTs) and Crown Dependencies are places that are far away from the UK, but they have a historical or constitutional link to the United Kingdom.The King is the head of state but they have their own governments and laws.
For 10-year-old Owen the trip to London was a big one and took more than a week via sea and air. Owen said: "I am very excited to be given this opportunity to speak in the House of Commons, and to see famous landmarks like the clock tower of Big Ben."Owen spoke to the chamber about his ambitions to be a car mechanic, and the challenges that he faces when it comes to education and training to do reach his goals.He said: "I might be young, but like everyone here I've got dreams and I know that education and training is how I make them come true."
Another young person making history in the Commons was Kristers, the MYP for North East Scotland. He was the first MYP to deliver a speech using British Sign Language (BSL).A BSL interpreter communicated this via a microphone in the Commons Chamber.Kristers said: "I feel really honoured to be invited to come to the House of Commons to deliver my speech on the importance of 16 and 17 year olds having a vote."Today I think I was the first BSL user to speak in the Chamber – I feel it is important for the deaf community to show that any young person who uses BSL can do anything!"
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