Empowering young people to be political accelerators of change

In July, I held the second edition of my Political Summer School where I welcomed  13 young people from Battersea into Parliament for five days of talks, workshops and interactive sessions. The purpose of the School was to give them an inside perspective and a better understanding of of politics.

Participants ranged in age from 16 to 21 and from diverse backgrounds. Some came from local schools, like Harris Academy Battersea, and others were partway through their university studies.

The week was packed with incredible guest speakers, including Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, Shadow Secretary for Climate Change, Ed Miliband MP, and Deputy Speaker, Nigel Evans MP.

But politics is more than just the House of Commons and parliamentarians. The participants also heard from local councillors, their local London Assembly member, figures from journalism, PR and public affairs, as well as Battersea business owners and visited community groups in the constituency.

One of my priorities as an MP has been to open up Parliament and ensure that it is accessible to all.

Politics affects all aspects of our lives, and it is vital that we have a political sphere comprising people from all backgrounds.

The most important thing, for me, was to show these young people that they can and should take a role in politics.

Worryingly, too many young people feel like politics isn’t for them, that they don’t belong in the world of politics. When I was their age, I also felt far removed from what was happening in Parliament, and I had to overcome many barriers to to be an MP.

That is why I am determined to break down barriers for future generations and show them that they can have a future in politics. .

It is possible – amie Colclough, who attended last year’s Summer School, was elected this year to be Battersea’s youngest Councillor, for St Mary’s Ward.

I hope that our some of the young people from from this year’s School will also become involved in politics or become leaders in n whatever path they choose.

I hope to welcome some of  them as colleagues in the Houses of Parliament one day!

If you or your children would be interested in taking part in the 2023 edition, please keep an eye out for the School’s announcement next spring.