Writing this article I am sat on the banks of the Thames, overlooking a rather grand London Eye, in the shadow of the magnificent Big Ben, the city abuzz all around. The final countdown is nearing its end for the big House of Commons events and anticipation can certainly be felt in the air as the monumental event draws near. As I write, Members of the Youth Parliament are descending on London from across the country to join me here in Westminster to make history as the first people other than MPs to sit in the House of Commons.
It has certainly been a long journey in terms of preparations and anticipation, with the MPs granting us the opportunity earlier this year and with much work going on behind the scenes to make this possible.
Yesterday saw a great deal of media work taking place with the BBC, the News Channel, the World Service, ITV and many newspaper to highlight this big occasion and much more coverage will most certainly be sent out today.
As the sun rose this morning and continues to rise high into the sky, it is clear that this event marks a new dawn for Young People’s engagement in politics and the issues which they are concerned about by highlighting the causes at the very heart of British Democracy and no doubt this is only the beginning but it is most certainly a fantastic way to start. The thought on many of the young people’s minds this morning as they enter the palace of Westminster will surely be:
“Are we ready to make history?”
