Youth Parliament - too English
The UK Youth Parliament is to meet in the chamber of the House of Commons after two hours of 'robust debate' from the representatives who routinely use that chamber. During the debate Christopher Chope MP pointed out that one of the criticisms of UKYP is that the organisation is "too English".
Too English! Too English for whom? If it's too English for certain people then why don't they go and sit in the Scottish Youth Parliament, the Young People's Assembly for Wales or the Northern Ireland Youth Forum? Or - here's an idea - why not create an explicitly English forum and keep devolved matters out of the UK Youth Parliament?
The actual report to which Mr Chope refers found that:
There is considerable support for an English Youth Parliament, with UKYP functioning as an umbrella organisation. This support comes from some English stakeholders but is particularly strong amongst stakeholders from the devolved nations, who argue that UKYP functions at present as an English organisation and that this should be recognised formally.
When I wrote to UKYP to ask why there was no English Youth Parliament this is what they told me:
Dear Gareth - thanks for your email, unfortunately or fortunately depending on which way you look at this, the politicians in Westminster have indicated that they wish for there to exist a UK Youth Parliament, and not an English only Youth Parliament. As the Government in Westminster provides our core funding our hands are just slightly tied on this issue.
Kate Parish
Development Co-ordinator | UK Youth Parliament
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West Lothian Question Solved, by kids
from Toque on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 11:15Last week the United Kingdom Youth Parliament met at the House of Commons, it was only the second time in history that the House of Commons had opened its doors to non-MPs, the first time being the 2009 outing for the UKYP.
Speaker Bercow praised the div
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Application form to be a
Application form to be a Labour electoral candidate.
Question 1. Are you Anglophobic?
Answer "no" and your chance is gone.
Q1. on the BBC's job application is identical.
This is another illustration
This is another illustration of the way the skewed form that devolution has taken hitherto distorts the pattern of other institutions and foments animosity between Brits of the four nations. All these Yoof groups including the all-UK YP ought to be campaigning for a fully devolved federal structure both for the UK and for the Youth Parliament movement so that they can all co-exist and function amicably, instead of being preoccupied with their various injustices.
Brian
http://www.barder.com/ephems/
remember this, remember the
remember this, remember the names and don't weaken when our time comes.
never forget and never forgive them.
Wessex, the prosperous land
Wessex, the prosperous land of scattered farmsteads and hamlets, seemed doomed to annihilation at the hand of marauding armies of piratical Vikings, heathen warriors that had already devastated Europe and laid waste to England’s midland and northern kingdom. But Alfred was to prove of different mettle than his unfortunate neighbours. Not only was he a tireless campaigner — it is by his battlefield honours that many historians know him best — he was also a man of vision, learning, and a great statesman. These qualities saved a nation and earned for Alfred the lasting title ‘The Great’ despite having only a relatively minor role in the long play of history.
Legend has it that Alfred was directly descended from Wodin, the Nordic God of victory.
All English folk should look to his example! Like Phoenix states, "never forget [what they did, are doing] and never forgive them!