A 16-YEAR-OLD Chedworth student is campaigning to become a Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) for the Cotswolds and Stroud.

George Richmond is running against three other candidates in the hopes of being named as one of 600 MYPs – all aged between 11 and 18 – from across the UK.

If elected, these bright politicians of the future will then be tasked with representing the views of young people in their area to government and service providers.

George is up against Hanna Doherty, Helen March and Millie Radford for one of two seats.

Gloucestershire is looking for three MYPs and three deputies in total, to cover Cotswolds and Stroud, as well as Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, and Gloucester and Forest of Dean.

The MYPs and their deputies in each of the three constituencies will swap roles after the first year of their two-year terms.

“I am very passionate about politics, but annoyed that consultation of us, as young people in Gloucestershire is minimal and I want to help change this, and make sure we are represented,” said George.

He went on to say that he wants to help address many issues faced today, including mental health services and support.

He said he also wants to bring about better life skill lessons in schools, such as money management and politics, as well as better places for young people to meet up in the county.

George is currently studying for an A-Level in Politics in Cheltenham and volunteers at Oxfam.

The idea for UKYP came about during an ‘Heir to the Millennium’ conference in Coventry Cathedral in May 1996.

Young people at the conference challenged organisers Andrew Rowe MP and the NSPCC to explore the idea of a youth parliament and to develop an effective youth manifesto.

The UKYP was then set up in 1998.

You can vote from 6am on March 20 by texting UKYPGLOS followed by the name of the candidate to 82055.

The results will be announced at 5pm on March 24.

Visit prospects.co.uk/ukypglos for more information.