Hodge was due to speak to the assembled group of more than 300 MYPs from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on the Wednesday of the four-day gathering, but cried off at short notice because of commitments back in Westminster. Delegates had to be content with a hastily assembled video presentation as a substitute for the real thing.
The minister softened the disappointment by using the video to announce an extra 80,000 for the UK Youth Parliament in the current financial year, as well as guaranteeing the organisation's money for the three years from 2005 (see p2).
But this was a missed opportunity. She would have gained so many plaudits from young people if she had actually taken the - admittedly long - trip up north.
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