UK youngsters to grill MPs

Youngsters from West Yorkshire, Sheffield, Birmingham and Bristol who are not in education, employment or training (known as NEETs) will be quizzing politicians on 24 February about their policies for education. The youngsters will travel to Westminster to take part in a question and answer session with Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative politicians.

The event has been organised by the University and College Union (UCU) to highlight the plight of the one million plus NEETs in the UK. The youngsters from across the country will all hand in letters to the politicians addressed to the respective party leaders detailing their individual situations.

The youngsters are:

• Diane Johnson from Pontefract and Ben Lall from Beeston in Leeds – Diane and Ben intend to lobby their MPs Hilary Benn and Jon Trickett when in Parliament
• Kye Bisset and Jordan Jennings who are both from Norfolk Park, Sheffield – Kye and Jordan’s MP is Meg Munn
• Mohammed Nabeel and Shamayal Yakoob, who are both from Hodge Hill, Birmingham – Liam Byrne is Mohammed and Shamayal’s MP
• Sibon Babatunji and Kadeem Mcdonald, who are both from St Pauls, Bristol – Sibon and Kadeem will also meet with their MP, Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrat shadow secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, who will be speaking at the event.

UCU will be issuing a report next week which includes a breakdown of the percentage of 16-24 year olds with no qualifications in over 200 local authorities including major towns, cities and counties.