On Wednesday 17th October, future generations of voters in the London Borough of Redbridge were given the platform to grill local politicians on a spectrum of topical issues. Linking in with the nationwide Local Democracy Week campaign, members of Redbridge Youth Council along with other young people across the borough were politically empowered, evaluating and criticising the verdicts of local decision makers, giving them the opportunity to have a direct influence on youth affairs.


The event was held at Redbridge Central Library and took the form of a speed debate. Young people were allocated a fixed time to go head to head with a Councillor, debating a particular issue of their personal interest. These were voted upon by the young people themselves, and included matters such as local democracy, law and order, education and the remnants of the Olympic legacy in Redbridge. This is but a fraction of the level of debate that took place on the day.


The set up of the speed debate gave the young people a true insight into the world of politics, allowing them to decipher opinions held by an array of politicians, each belonging to one of the main three political parties – Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour. The quizzical young representatives gave the councillors a run for their money with their mature and intuitive ideas.  Barriers between decision makers and the youth were swiftly diminished with either side challenging the critique of the other. The discussion quickly got going, delving into a whole new band of debate including those of current affairs and national democracy.


“I really enjoyed it” said Stephen Day, a member of Redbridge Youth Council “I learnt loads of new things and got a chance to have a say about what goes on in my local area. I will definitely be coming to the next one!” This shows how empowered the young people felt coming from the speed debate, reiterating the importance of such events in stabilising relationships between the authority of today and the authority of tomorrow. Councillor Ian Bond praised the session on twitter however mentioned that “more young people need to get involved!”


Haajarah Hussain, Redbridge’s deputy member of youth parliament said it was “a wonderful and productive evening! It gave me valuable insights into local issues which will help me assemble my pledges for the coming year.” The active role these young people play in local democracy is commendable and is an indicator of the pivotal role a youth council has on its borough. “Ideally, I would have liked the sessions to have been longer,” said Haajarah “but it was great nonetheless!”


To celebrate Local Democracy Week, the Youth Service have also organised several Question Time style debates in various schools across the borough to promote political activism in young people. Keep your eye out for other opportunities to have your influence on local, and even national, politics!