SCHOOLCHILDREN across Kirklees have chosen two Huddersfield pupils to campaign on issues that affect young people.

Fartown High School pupil Jade Tunnacliffe and Shelley College student George Lane have been chosen to represent Kirklees as members of the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP).

Jade and George, both 14, were among a number of youngsters aged 11 to 18 who stood for election – putting out video manifestos which were circulated around Kirklees schools.

Pupils voted for their favourite candidates and the results were revealed on Wednesday.

Two deputy MYPs were also elected – Lydia Hesling, 13, from Salendine Nook High School, and 17-year-old Chris Booth, who attends Fairfields School in Heckmondwike. The job of Kirklees MYPs is two-fold.

They campaign locally for action on issues that affect young people, such as bullying, and work closely with local councillors and youth services.

They also represent the views of Kirklees young people on a national scale, working with the Government.

The Kirklees Youth Parliament meets at the Brian Jackson Centre in Huddersfield, where it discusses issues that concern young people. There are also regional and national Youth Parliament meetings.

Jade said she was pleased to be taking on the challenge.

She said: “I feel honoured to be able to represent our school and the views of all the young people in Kirklees.

“My manifesto focuses on issues such as teenage pregnancy, recycling and crime. I am happy now to be the voice of all the young people, because it is important that we are heard as well as adults.”

Izabella Atraszkiewicz, headteacher of Fartown High, said: “I am delighted and proud that Jade has been elected to represent Kirklees in the Youth Parliament. It is an immense achievement. It is a pleasure to see a student with such commitment to school, her peers and the local community.

“Jade is an extremely responsible student whose maturity is a credit to her. I would also like to recognise the work done by Mrs Hudson, our curriculum deputy head, that makes such an opportunity possible to the students of Fartown High School.”

The two new MYPs are set to join 300 young people in the House of Lords on May 2 as the historic chamber is opened up for the UK Youth Parliament’s national meeting.

It will be the first time the UKYP has sat in the Houses of Parliament and follows a promise made by Gordon Brown, shortly after his election as Prime Minister, to encourage the UKYP to be more involved in Parliament.

Andy Hamflett, chief executive of UKYP, said: “For decades, young people have been saying that the Houses of Parliament have very little to do with them. That will all change on May 2 when MYPs from across the UK storm the Lords to have their say.”

For more information about Kirklees UKYP, contact Alice Taylor on kirkleesukyp@googlemail.com or 01484 223369.