MPs grant youth parliament use of House of Commons for further five years

Members of youth parliament have been allowed to use the House of Commons for their annual debate ever since being granted permission by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2007.

But the arrangement has been opposed by some.

Speaking at a debate on whether UKYP should be allowed to continue using the chamber for the duration of the current five-year term, Conservative MP Philip Davies argued that UKYP were supposed to use the chamber for one year only.

He said there was "no logic" in allowing members of youth parliament to use the chamber but not allowing other groups such as the Muslim Council of Britain to use it.
 
But former children’s minister and Conservative MP Tim Loughton defended UKYP's annual use of the chamber.

Loughton said he would like the role of the UKYP in the house extended, with the group getting more powers automatically. He also told the chamber that reports carried out by the youth select committee should be automatically debated in the house.
 
“Over the past few years, its members have proved wrong all the scare stories that they would be hanging from the chandeliers or leaving chewing gum under the seats, and they treat this place with rather greater respect than some honourable members who sit here day after day," he said.

"They have earned the right to continue to sit in this house once a year and, more than that, I feel that they have earned the right to be taken rather more seriously, so their proceedings should become a matter for automatic debate by this house in future years."