Rory is elected to the UK Youth Parliament
Gryphon Sixth Former Rory Baird is taking his first steps on the political ladder after being elected to the UK youth Parliament.
After weeks of campaigning by 12 contenders, and votes by some 14,000 young people (27,840 votes cast in total), the four successful candidates were announced on Friday 2 February, at a ceremony at County Hall, Dorchester.
The role of the Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs) is to represent Dorset on a regional and national basis, and help engage young people in politics, democracy and citizenship. They will also deliver their own personal manifestos to improve the lives of young people.
The voting process is managed by Dorset County Council. Deborah Croney, Cabinet member for Education, Learning and Skills, said:
“It’s fantastic that so many young people are passionate about making Dorset a better place. I’m sure the successful candidates will do an excellent job in representing the aspirations of youngsters across the county. I look forward to seeing them debating in the Houses of Parliament and supporting them to deliver their manifestos here in Dorset.”
Rory decided to run for election due to his keen interest in politics, and is looking to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics at university next year. He hopes his straight-forward approach will help him promote his priorities which include jobs for young people, helping them explore all career options available to them, and highlighting the need for greater public transport for students in rural areas such as Dorset.
