The End of the UK Youth Parliament: A Step Back in Youth Representation

Is politics for young people? Well, I can tell you that it certainly is. My name is Kazim, and I'm 17 years old. Being the Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) for Birmingham means a lot to me, as it gives me a seat at the big table and the opportunity to work with local politicians and national decision-makers. Some seem to think that the representation of our youth is not a priority, as adults can adequately represent our interests. But tell me, how many adults really understand the world from a young person's perspective? Very few.

The government's announcement that it will no longer fund the UK Youth Parliament is deeply concerning. There is a real chance that, once my term ends, Birmingham will have no MYP to represent its young people. Not many people get this privilege, and it could be lost indefinitely. I can understand that, given the government's financial constraints, the value for money may not seem to be there, particularly when only around 26% of young people across the UK are aware of its existence. However, that 26% is a foundation that should be built upon, not demolished.

The UK Youth Parliament is not a novelty, and it is not "practice mode". It connects young people with the opportunities, support and decision-makers that can shape their futures. It lets us support one another, build our careers and grow into the leaders of tomorrow. It is a valuable national, platform where young people work together to achieve practical change. One clear example is the campaign to extend the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds, which caused a considerable stir in the House of Commons.

The city I have the honour of representing, Birmingham, or "Brum" to those who know it, is one of the youngest cities in Europe, with around 40% of its population under 25 years of age. But being part of a bright city does not mean everyone is supported. Speaking to many young people during my time has taught me one thing: there simply isn't enough support in place to help everybody, let alone provide the right support. My manifesto focuses on modernising career advice in schools, helping teenagers build polished CVs and confident writing, and teaching the skills every young person needs to enter a modern workforce.

This issue extends well beyond "Brum", and it is exactly why young people need a voice in the rooms where decisions are made. AI screening tools can reject CVs over simple grammatical or structural errors before a human ever sees them, yet these are precisely the practical skills schools and colleges too often overlook. Education remains largely exam-focused and theory-based, but there is little point in having the theory without the practical skills to get your foot in the door. The job market shows why this matters: entry-level vacancies have fallen by 50% over the past year to their lowest level in a decade, yet academic institutions still give the same career advice they gave students 10 to 15 years ago.

Adults are advising us for the job market they entered, not the one we are entering. This is what I raise as an MYP, and it is why the UK Youth Parliament matters. If policymakers do not hear directly from young people, the guidance we receive will continue to lag behind the reality we face.

The UK Youth Parliament needs investment to reach more young people, not abolition. That means more of us taking part in democracy and being ready for a future in which we will face unprecedented challenges. In a socio-economic landscape changing this quickly, it is more important than ever that young people's voices are represented. With opportunities for young people shrinking, the government must ask itself whether it is right to pull the ladder up any further.

So, is politics for young people? It is. But only if there is still a seat at the table for us.