Youth voice is heard

TWO of Scotland's political party leaders listened to the views of young people at a special youth conference staged by the Evening News.

Labour leader Iain Gray and Greens co-convener Robin Harper told the How Can I Make a Difference? event at the EICC yesterday that they believed that lowering the voting age to 16 was now "inevitable". They also heard concerns from teenagers about the cuts being faced by agencies working with them in the Capital, and the lack of support for young people with learning difficulties looking for work.

Mr Gray described the fact that only one in ten find work as a "scandal" which requires Government action, while Mr Harper urged schools to give their pupil councils control of their own budgets.

Former Scottish Youth Parliament chairman and Big Brother Celebrity Hijack winner John Loughton spoke movingly of young people's power to change lives and parliamentary officer Nico Juetten explained the work of Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Comedian Susan Morrison hosted the event, which was part of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation's event The Gathering.