London,
13
July
2022
|
12:16
Europe/London

New Camden Youth MPs elected

Camden students Aya Elgool and Samir Qurashi have been elected as the borough’s two new Youth MPs, following a two-week election held within schools and youth centres.

Aya and Samir, both 16, each attend Regent High School and are also both members of Camden Youth Council, as well as being active in other local youth organisations.

Two new Deputy Youth MPs were also elected. They are Rebecca Stamp, 15, a student at Haverstock School, and Hdayet Otaky, 16, also of Regent High School.

Young people across Camden went to the polls over the last two weeks to decide who should represent them.

All 11 to 19-year-olds who live in Camden, go to a local school or college, or attend a local youth centre, were eligible to vote in their school or youth centre.

The results were announced by the Mayor of Camden and outgoing Camden Youth MP Anes Bouzouina on Monday, 11 July at Camden Council’s offices in Pancras Square, King’s Cross.

New Camden Youth MP, Samir Qurashi

Thank you to everyone who voted for me, supported me and promoted my campaign to be Camden Youth MP. I look forward to working with Camden Council, and young people themselves, to implement the strategies outlined in my manifesto.

New Camden Youth MP, Samir Qurashi
New Camden Youth MP, Aya Elgool

Thank you to the people who supported me, including Camden Youth Council, my friends and family. I promise to do my best to work hard for the youth of Camden.

New Camden Youth MP, Aya Elgool
The Mayor of Camden, Councillor Nasim Ali OBE

Thank you to our brilliant outgoing Youth MP and Deputy Youth MPs for all your hard work, especially during the very difficult period of the pandemic.

This time we had eight fantastic candidates. Thank you to all the young people who put themselves forward and congratulations to the four who were elected – you are the future leaders of Camden and the future of the borough, and I look forward to working with you.

The Mayor of Camden, Councillor Nasim Ali OBE
Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture

As a Council, we’re really keen for our young people to get involved in local decision-making and have their say on issues that are important to them. The Youth MP Election gives our young people the chance to do just that and make a real difference for younger residents in the borough. Congratulations to the young people who were elected to serve for the next two years.

Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture

The newly-elected Youth MPs and Deputy Youth MPs will:

  • attend local, regional and national events
  • attend the UK Youth Parliament national meeting to decide on future campaigns
  • attend the UK Youth Parliament event at the House of Commons to debate and vote on national campaigns
  • meet senior Council officers, councillors, and other local decision-makers
  • visit schools and youth clubs
  • oversee the progress of the issues outlined by young people at the annual Camden Shout Out.

This year, the election was held online with unique voting codes being sent to all Camden state secondary schools, as well as Camden youth centres and a few private schools in the borough.