After 13 years of tough campaigning by the youth sector, England finally has its first children's commissioner. In Professor Al Aynsley-Green, the consensus is that England's 10.5 million children have a champion who knows his way around the corridors of power and has a genuine appreciation of the issues faced by all young people (see p2).

There will be debate about the powers of England's commissioner compared with children and young people's champions for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. But, first and foremost, the appointment is a cause for celebration.

It is especially encouraging to hear Aynsley-Green say he will champion the interests of adolescents. And it appears young people had a real input into the selection process - Aynsley-Green described it as his "most gruelling" interview (see p11).

His background in health is not a barrier to success - it's an advantage.

In pushing through the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services last year he proved himself an able energiser for radical change.

Sure, his 2.5m a year budget is pitiful in comparison with other commissioners, and the English role promotes awareness of the views and interests of young people, rather than the promotion of their rights. But the new commissioner gives the impression he will battle for an extension of his powers.

And the fact is that many useful concessions were wrung from peers and MPs as Part 1 of the Children Act 2004 passed through Parliament. These mean the commissioner must take into account the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. He has the power of entry to institutional premises, and he can force individuals to provide him with information when reasonably requested. He can initiate formal inquiries and his reports will have absolute privilege. Perhaps most significantly, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills can only amend a report to protect the identity of a child, heading off accusations that the commissioner would be a government lapdog.

The establishment of a children's commissioner was never trumpeted as the solution to young people's problems, but in Aynsley-Green the youth of England have a champion who can be relied on to stand up for their interests to government and other institutions. And that's a tribute to those who campaigned long and hard to make the post a reality and improve its scope.