WESTBURY teenager Ellie Pullen, who is the UK Youth Parliament representative for West Wiltshire, has just returned from the annual sitting of the youth parliament, which was held at Leeds University.
The 15-year-old Matravers pupil was elected to the parliament in February, after standing against six other candidates for the position of MYP for West Wiltshire.
As part of the weekend filled with inspirational speakers, debates, and workshops, Ellie helped put together and present a motion for the youth parliament to adopt, asking the government to change the laws according to the way The Netherlands deals with euthanasia. The motion was subsequently passed with a large majority and will feature in the youth parliament’s manifesto.
Ellie said, “I was one of 300 young people travelling from across the country to Leeds University for the UK Youth Parliament annual sitting. As this was my first sitting I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I knew from the smiling faces around me I was certainly going to enjoy myself.
“The sitting was opened by two very inspiring speakers. Rt Hon Jon Bercow, speaker for the House of Commons, relayed his continuing support for the UKYP, describing the organization as “Not just important in principle but one that does outstanding work in practise.” He also described himself as “simply the warm up act” and handed us over to Iby Knill.
“Iby Knill is an Auschwitz survivor whose words will stay with me for the rest of my life, I cannot relay her story without shedding tears – it really has had a big impact on me. Those words were “I’m still the same, I haven’t changed. I wasn’t going to let them change me because under the skin I was still the same.” This line brought the entire audience to a standing ovation with tears rolling down the faces of many.”
Ellie also attended workshops, had a regional meeting with the other MYPs from the South West, and attended a manifesto workshop.
Ellie continued, “In the groups we all put our ideas to the floor and decided that smear testing and euthanasia would be our topics to take to the parliament. I joined another MYP from Northern Ireland and the next day we would be speaking to the parliament about euthanasia to an audience of about 400, the biggest I have ever had. The motions would be voted on in the parliament using hand held voting pads.
“Also that day we did ethics based workshops. I participated in ‘Chicks in Politics’ and we discussed and debated whether we thought women were discriminated against in parliament, and we also had panel debates with some of the speakers where I questioned Tim Loughton MP on railcards.”
Ellie described the feeling of speaking in front of hundreds of people the following day. “As I stood up and walked towards the front I could hear my friends from the South West cheering me on. It all happened rather quickly and we sat back down and awaited the results of the vote; much to our surprise our motion passed with a large majority and will feature in the national manifesto.
“The motion I put to the parliament alongside another MYP from Northern Ireland was about euthanasia and was asking the government to change the laws according to the way the Netherlands deal with euthanasia. I think this is important because I don’t think people who are terminally ill and are no longer having a quality of life should have to live out their life in misery if they no longer want to live. I also think is unjust that family or friends may be prosecuted for assisting them carry out their wishes in another country.”
Two further speakers were at the closing ceremony; Natascha Engel MP, chair of the backbench committee and Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children. Ellie said, “What a brilliant end to my weekend!”
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