A 14-YEAR-OLD Farmor’s School pupil has been elected as the Member of Youth Parliament for the Cotswolds and Stroud.

Hanna Doherty was named among 600 new MYPs following Friday’s elections.

She will serve a two-year term alongside deputy MYP George Richmond, 16, who finished in second place, with candidates having campaigned to gain text votes from 6am on March 20.

These bright politicians of the future are tasked with representing the views of young people in their area to government and service providers.

Hanna said she was made aware of the elections by a friend and agreed to put her name forward despite not having experience in any school-based elections.

“It was a bit of a rush because I didn’t have much time,” she told the Standard. “I ended up being nominated on the day of the deadline for applications. I was thrown in at the deep end and had to make the most of the little time I had, but I campaigned hard.”

One of the main issues Hanna wanted to address was “breaking down barriers for young people”.

“I think the problem is we are still too often looked at as just teenagers,” she said. “We need to have a chance to show what we have to offer.”

Other issues she raised in her campaign included providing more practical help for teenagers with mental health problems as well as better education about mental illness.

She would also like to help provide teenagers in her constituency with more to do.

“I think a broader range of clubs and groups in this area would greatly benefit people our age,” she said.

Hanna admitted it would be a bit daunting when first stepping into the House of Commons, but she is looking forward to working alongside George, who is studying for an AS-level in politics.

Hanna and George will swap roles after one year.

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

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