8:25am Wednesday 24th June 2009
By Telegraph & Argus
There can be little doubt that the reputation of politics and politicians, as far as the public is concerned, is at one of its all-time lows.
The seemingly never-ending list of outrageous expenses claims has seen to that.
The rot, though, may have set in many years before with yah-boo politics, rather than proper debate, allied to frequent outbreaks of sleaze turning many off what happens in the Palace of Westminster.
And yet it could be argued that these very problems show why we all need to take more of an interest in what our elected representatives get up to, rather than less.
After all, even if you are completely disillusioned with the current crop, there is always the chance that the next generation will be different.
Consider the Bradford and Keighley Youth Parliament, for example.
While its MYPs may be some way off occupying seats on the green benches, their idealism and willingness to get involved does them credit and bodes well for their, and possibly our, future.
The new Youth Parliament holds its first public meeting tomorrow and among its priorities are tackling knife crime and reducing homelessness – and no doubt it expects to address these and other topics without a duck island or flipped second home in sight.
It is fair to say there was a time when the Youth Parliament seemed to take its lead from the Commons – perhaps now it could teach its big brother a thing or two.
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