SOUTH Lakeland's new member of youth parliament has been elected this week.

Reece Hammond, who attends The Lakes School, will represent the views of young people in the South Lakeland and Barrow area.

He, along with other elected members, will represent Cumbria at the annual UK Youth Parliament later in the year – a debate held in the House of Commons and chaired by Speaker of the House, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP.

The topics they will debate are chosen by young people from all over the UK in the national and will be: transport, young people’s mental health, and a curriculum to prepare young people for life.

Speaking after his election success, Reece, 16, of Ambleside, said: "I am very pleased to have won. The thought of making a difference for people my age made this something I really wanted to do."

One of Reece's main campaign points was the lowering of the voting age so that 16 and 17 year-olds can have a say in major elections.

He said: "We are the people who have to live in the future, so we should get a say.

"If younger people had a vote it could have drastically changed the result of the recent general election and the EU Referendum."

Another main point on Reece's manifesto was increasing funding for sports in the area, enabling better all-weather facilities to be available to all sports teams.

He also hopes to "preserve the freedom of speech inside schools and universities", explaining that he feels that places of education should be where everybody is free to voice their opinions and debate things openly.

Two other members of youth parliament (YMPs) were elected: Elspeth Dennison for Copeland and Allerdale, and Gabriel Aston for Carlisle and Eden.

Nominations took place between October 2017 and January 2018, with all potential candidates required to attend training activities, submit a manifesto, and prepare a campaign strategy.

Campaigning took place in schools, academies and colleges across the county, with candidates delivering presentations in assemblies and taking part in hustings events.

Speaking at the count, Cllr Anne Burns, cabinet member for children's services in Cumbria, said: "This is the third MYP election I have been involved in, and each time I feel heartened by the commitment of these young people to making a difference for their peers in Cumbria.

"For example, it is off the back of the campaigns by MYPs that a green paper about children's mental health is now in parliament.

"Having young people with a voice means that adults take notice of what they are saying. Only by working together can we make anything better and make a difference.

"These people are our political and democratic future."