University News Last updated 01 April 2015
More than 130 young people from across the West Midlands grilled local politicians in Birmingham as part of the first ever nationwide youth debate.
The election debate, which formed part of a national drive to improve voter participation, was covered by students from Birmingham City University's School of Media. It was organised by youth charity UpRising and chaired by 18-year-old James Woolcock. Candidates answered questions from 16- to 25-year-olds about the economy, education, employment, immigration and the future of the NHS.
Media students from the University worked tirelessly to check facts and figures cited by panellists John Hemming MP and parliamentary candidates Rachel Maclean (Conservatives), Phil Simpson (Green Party), Clair Braund (UKIP) and Birmingham City University lecturer Paul Bradshaw.
Mr Bradshaw said: "It was a really inspiring event. As someone who teaches future journalists, seeing them hold power to account is what you always dream of - and tonight that happened in spades."
The National Youth Debate involved 1,000 young people in 11 towns and cities, giving them a platform to have their say exactly six weeks before the election.
The debate went viral as the event hashtag #myvoicemyvote trended on Twitter, with participants voting on the issues on an online app throughout the night. The event was also live streamed for Birmingham Eastside.
Dhanesh Mahmood, a 17-year-old attendee on the night, said: "It was a really engaging debate which helped politicians to reach out and for the younger generation to get their voices heard. It helped me to get a better understanding of what parties stand for and helped decide who I should vote for in the next election."
UpRising Youth Debate co-ordinator Nichola Twemlow said: “We were delighted so many young people got involved in the debates nationwide. We know many young people are passionate about social issues, but Westminster feels a million miles away.
"UpRising organised the debates to show young people not just how politics influences them, but also how they can influence politics, giving them a national platform to do so. With only half of young people voting in 2010, there's a real risk young people slide right off the political agenda unless they make their voices heard."
UpRising used the event to launch its new My Voice My Vote campaign to engage young people in the election, encouraging participants to register to vote and sign up 10 friends. UpRising is a national youth leadership charity, running programmes for 16-25 year olds to design and deliver social campaigns on the issues they care about.
Students can register to vote until April 20.
Put your questions to politicians
For your chance to put questions to major politicians from all five English parties, why not come to our election debate at Birmingham City University on Thursday 23 April?
Find out more and book your place