Hackney youths grill MPs at Parliament

Hackney teens led 38 young people from across the UK giving MPs a grilling in Parliament.

The young team from PEN – Poverty Ends Now prepared a manifesto targeting issues that impact child poverty, deriving from their own and their peers’ experiences.

More than 100 people attended the event on October 15 at the Houses of Parliament.

Two young people from Clapton and Hackney Central led the inquiry, which challenged the MPs to explain why more had not been achieved.

Humaira, 17, of Southwold Road said: “The event was a great success. We can tell by how many attended the launch. I believe the issues in our manifesto will be tackled now.”

Shakila, 17, also of Southwold Road said: “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’ve never been to Parliament. It was an amazing opportunity.”

Event organister, Rys Farthing, of Oxford University, said: “The young people from Hackney were incredible. They had prepared tough questions in advance and also co-ordinated some questions from the floor, so others could have a turn. You could see the politicians squirming.”

Attending MPs included Chris White, Conservative and Member of the All Party Political Group on Poverty, Theresa Pearce, Labour and Member of the Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee, and David Ward, Liberal Democrat and Member of the Education Select Committee.

Learn more about the PEN manifesto at povertyendsnow.tumblr.com.