Children vote for Dorset youth parliament representatives (From Dorset Echo)

Children vote for Dorset youth parliament representatives

1:00pm Wednesday 20th February 2013 in News By James Tourgout

NEARLY 15,000 young people cast their votes to choose their representative in the Dorset youth elections.

Lloyd Hatton, of the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester, came first out of 14 candidates, gaining 7,963 votes, and was elected as one of the county’s three members of the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) for Dorset.

Also elected were Moya Dunne, of Ferndown Upper School and James Jones, of Ferndown Middle School as 4,382 votes were cast.

The three deputy members of the Youth Parliament were James Morphakis, of St Osmond’s Middle School in Dorchester, Natasha Glendening of the Gryphon School in Sherborne and Eve Laird, of Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne.

Coun Toni Coombs, Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The UK Youth Parliament gives young people a chance to have their say on the issues that matter to them and I’m delighted that so many of our pupils took the opportunity to vote in the Dorset election.

“Well done to all the candidates for putting themselves forward and wanting to make a difference for young people across Dorset.

“I wish the MYPs and their deputies the very best of luck for the year ahead.”

More than 14,400 young people cast their votes in the election.

The UK Youth Parliament is a national organisation that aims to give people aged 11 to 18 an opportunity to get involved in democracy and decision making at national and local level. In Dorset the election process is managed by Dorset County Council.

Some 14 candidates stood for election this year. Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s electoral services helped turn schools and colleges into polling stations for the election day by providing ballot papers, voting booths and ballot boxes.

Young people voted for the three candidates they thought should be MYPs.

The three elected members of the UKYP for each Dorset area were: Lloyd Hatton, Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester: 7,963 votes. Moya Dunne, Ferndown Upper School in Ferndown: 6,766 votes. James Jones, Ferndown Middle School in Ferndown: 4,382 votes.

Three Deputy MYPs: James Morphakis, St Osmond’s Middle School in Dorchester: 3,399 votes. Natasha Glendening, The Gryphon School in Sherborne: 3,284 votes. Eve Laird, Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne: 3,008 votes.