Summary of November 2023 Conference at Ursuline High School
On the 9th of November, TEAM Global in partnership with Ursuline High School, hosted a conference aimed at inspiring the younger generation to engage more actively in the political landscape. The theme, Impacting politics, how to bring about political change, invited discussion on a range of topics, including underrepresentation, voting age and non-traditional journeys into politics.
Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond, Twickenham MP Munira Wilson and Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh kicked off the day talking about their individual journeys into politics, demonstrating that candidates from different backgrounds can make a difference to their community. Fascinated by their stories, students asked questions to learn more about their personal motivations for pursuing a career in parliament. The conference featured diverse voices, not only from the political sphere but also from academics. Dr Michael Bankole, lecturer at Royal Holloway University of London spoke about racial and ethnic underrepresentation in politics, which sparked discussions among students about the importance of diversity, while Dr Kristian Niemietz gave an insightful presentation on the long-term impact of growing up in a low-income household, drawing ideas from his book, A New Understanding of Poverty.
The conference also featured discussions with Ursuline High School alumna and Labour Party Councillor Sheri-Ann Bhim, who spoke about the work she does with the Merton community as well as the role she plays in shaping policy and local services. Moreover, London Assembly member Hina Bokhari, stressed the importance of having diverse voices to represent the community, and her duty to Londoners to make sure that the Mayor’s decisions align with the population’s best interests.
The day ended with a heated debate on whether the voting age should be lowered to 16. It was led by Dr Clark McGinn, strategic adviser to investors in the mission-critical helicopter business who brought arguments in support of the motion and his counterpart, Daniele Scanio, a legal practitioner who is preparing to start his practice as a Barrister. Students got the opportunity to take part by offering arguments for either side. Perhaps the most interesting aspect was the wide range of arguments presented by the students both pro and against lowering the balloting age to 16. Some of the strongest arguments brought forward by students were regarding the fact that lowering the voting age could add unnecessary stress to students who should focus on education. In contrast, others argued that since 16-year-olds can start working and are more aware of current events, they should be able to participate in shaping their future by voting in local and national elections.
Throughout the day, college students actively participated in conversation, asking thought-provoking questions and making insightful contributions to the discourse. The students of today will lead the country of tomorrow, therefore it is reassuring to see the younger generations expressing curiosity towards current issues, as well as a genuine interest in building a better future.
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