During the debate MPs opposing the motion expressed concerns about the potential inappropriate behaviour of young people in the chamber and the precedent that the move would set for other groups to hold meetings there. Currently no-one is allowed to sit on the benches in the chamber apart from elected members of Parliament.
Christopher Chope, Conservative MP for Christchurch, said the proposal would send out a message "that we were patronising young people in an unhealthy way by leading them to believe that an equivalence existed between being members of a mock parliament and being members of a real Parliament".
Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, accused the government of "trying to look trendy and suck up to the youth vote".
But Labour MP for Hastings and Rye, Michael Jabez Foster, said he was in favour of a proposal that was "realistic, fair and reasonable that shows respect and encouragement to the young people of the UK Youth Parliament".
Peter Wishart, Scottish National Party MP for Perth and Perthshire, pointed out that the Scottish Youth Parliament already sits in the Scottish Parliament "with no fuss whatever".
The motion was passed by a majority of 186 votes after a motion to have the UK Youth Parliament meet in a committee room instead of the Chamber was defeated.
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