Students quiz Stafford MP during UK Parliament Week as Government considers lowering voting age

Pupils from St John’s Primary Academy enjoyed a rare walk in Downing Street as part of a trip to the capital to see Parliament, while students at the new Staffordshire Institute of Technology had the opportunity to quiz Stafford MP Leigh Ingham during UK Parliament Week.

Teenagers studying business and travel courses at the Stafford campus also heard a talk about how local government and the Mayoralty works, from the borough Mayor Jenny Barron on Friday. The timely lessons may come in handy earlier than expected, as the Government announced it planned to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 earlier this year.

Student Elijah Smith, 17, said: “They were saying how bills get through Parliament and how laws are introduced. I need to start thinking about how I’m going to vote.”

Fellow student Ava Davies, also 17, said: “We learned new things I didn’t even know, such as the Mayor can only be Mayor once (on Stafford Borough Council).”

While some teenagers already had an idea of which party they would cast their ballot for in an election, others admitted to finding the process a little daunting – particularly if a candidate they voted for won but then didn’t deliver what they had said they would in their manifesto. And one questioned if some 16-year-olds were mature enough to vote, or would be influenced by their parents.

More than 2,400 children and young people across Stafford, Eccleshall and the surrounding villages took part in this year’s UK Parliament Week, which took place November 24-29. More than 40 schools and youth groups across the constituency took part, including Scouts and Guides.

They took part in activities including mock debates and elections, as well as learning how petitions work and the role of Parliament in making decisions that affect everyday life. Earlier this year Ms Ingham also ran a Politics Summer School, which included young people in the constituency meeting Chancellor Rachel Reeves at 11 Downing Street.

She said: “It was inspiring to see so many young people across our community get involved in UK Parliament Week. Their curiosity, confidence, and commitment to making a difference shine through every time I meet them.

“Listening to young people is one of the most important parts of my job, and I am determined to keep creating opportunities for them to shape the decisions that affect their lives.”

This year’s UK Parliament Week coincided with the Budget, which brought direct changes for students who have already entered the workplace. From April 1 2026, the National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20 year olds will increase to £10.85 per hour, while 16-17-year-olds and apprentices will see their pay increase to £8 per hour.

Sarah Lewis, Curriculum Leader for T-Level Business at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG), said: “I’m passionate about getting young people interested in what is going to affect them. At this stage in their lives their minds are going to be shaped by so many things – if they have information they can make their own choices.”