Order, order! Young people vote...

The beginning of Parliament week saw Members of UK Youth Parliament (MYPs) for Plymouth, Harry Samuels and Matt Currie, travel to London on Friday 15 November, along with 296 Members of UK Youth Parliament, to debate the issues most important to young people today.

They gathered on the green benches, in The House of Commons, and discussed the five issues voted for by nearly a quarter of a million young people including:

1. A curriculum to prepare us for life, which was chosen as the UK Youth Parliament’s national campaign in 2013
2. Zero tolerance towards bullying in schools
3. Better work experience and careers advice
4. Combating youth unemployment
5. Votes for 16 and 17 year olds in all public elections

Following the debates all members of UK Youth Parliament entered into each lobby to make their decision on which issue was most important to them and the young people who live in their community.

After a full day of debating the ballots were counted and The Speaker of the House announced that UK Youth Parliament believes all16 and 17 year olds should be given the vote in all public elections choosing ‘votes at 16’ as its national campaign for 2014.

"A curriculum to prepare us for life" was also chosen as the UKYP’s priority campaign for England.

Matt Currie, 17, Member of UK Youth Parliament for Plymouth attends Sir John Hunt Community Sports College said: "It was an absolute privilege to represent the young people of Plymouth within the House of Commons. It was an amazing experience to be able to sit on the green benches which carry so much history, in the heart of British democracy.

"The passion and energy present in the chamber was indescribable, and the debates were of a really high standard.

"Despite standing for each debate, I wasn't chosen to speak, but taking part in such an historic occasion was still an honour nevertheless.  It is a day that I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life.

"I would like to thank everyone who made it possible including my youth workers Sarah Harris and Emma Wright , the BYC staff, The Speaker John Bercow and everyone else involved in making it such a successful day!

"I am pleased that Curriculum for Life has returned as our campaign for England, carrying on previously from last year.

"It is important that young people are given an enriching, inspiring and wholesome education that develops them as a person so that they can leave education prepared with ambition and skills for life. UKYP have done so much work towards this throughout 2013, and it is exciting to see how much more we can achieve.

" I am also happy to see Votes at 16 become our national campaign as this is clearly an important issue that many young people feel passionate about which was clearly reflected in the debate in the chamber."