Bumper vote elects Lancashire's new Members of Youth Parliament
A fresh crop of Members of Youth Parliament has been elected in Lancashire – after a record turnout of votes across the county.
The Youth Parliament elections on Thursday, 12 March saw a 35.5% voter turnout – which is above the 34% overall national turn out in the General Election last May.
The seven new faces are set to proudly take the reins in areas including Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston and Rossendale. Meanwhile, Deputy Youth MP's have been elected for Burnley, Ribble Valley, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre.
Mohammed Dawud Islam, who won 1,444 votes, said, of the election: "We just found out our new National youth Parliament results, and I'm the new member for the Burnley and Pendle Constituency.
"I'm feeling excited for the new opportunities that we can both bring to our community."
Similarly, Emilia Ficorilli, the new MYP for Lancaster, Fylde and Wyre, said: "I really like what youth council does and what it stands for. The more time I've spent in Lancashire Youth Council and Fylde District Youth Council, I've grown to see how much it helps the community.... I want youth to have a voice."
Elections for Lancashire MYP's (Members of the Youth Parliament) were held in high schools and Family Hub & Zones in Lancashire on Thursday 12th March 2026, with the final count taking place in Preston later the same day.
The Youth Parliament is a non‑party‑political body which enables 11–18‑year‑olds to represent the views and priorities of young people at both regional and national levels.
Established in 1999, it is independent of the UK Parliament, although it does have an annual meeting in the House of Commons Chamber and parliamentary staff have helped Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) in committee work in the past.
Run by the National Youth Agency (NYA), a charity that works with a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations, since May 2024, it funded by a grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
On the ground in Lancashire, Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs) are often drawn from the Lancashire Youth Council (LYC), a local, grassroots organisation linking direct young people to local Lancashire issues and national policymaking.
The Lancashire Youth Council is part of the council's Children and Family Wellbeing Service, which aims to prioritise the voices and experiences of children and young people with the council and beyond, and has 12 distinct youth councils aimed at representing young people’s voice across Lancashire.
It all means that young people who are elected as Members of Youth Parliament or Deputy MYP’s get to represent Lancashire and make sure that the county's young people can have a say in the policies and decisions that affect them, now and in the future.
County Councillor Matthew Salter, cabinet member for Education and Skills, said:
"It's great to see so many young people engaged in politics and we are really pleased to see such a high turnout, which is better than many ordinary elections.
"We are looking forward to working with the new MYPs and seeing them speak on behalf of the young people of Lancashire."
Dave Carr, director of Policy, commissioning and Children's Health at Lancashire County Council, said: "I think they have a huge opportunity to shape and influence at a national and local level. They will see debates in parliament, meet the Prime Minister and meet local MPs.
"All of those are just incredible things to help shape at all levels across the county – I just think it's amazing."