WOULD-be politicians from Salisbury quizzed MPs and a senior councillor at a special event.

Charles McGrath and Aodhan Burnell, joined fellow members of the UK Youth Parliament from across the south west to question decision makers at a Question Time-style event in Taunton.

Tessa Munt, MP for Wells; Natalie Bennett, the Leader of the Green Party; Cllr John Osman, leader of Somerset Council; and the youngest female councillor in the country, Cllr Kate Taylor for Plymouth, made for an interesting panel, and the afternoon heard lots of energetic debate. T

he three main questions were about whether the voting age should be lowered to 16, whether mental health services should be expanded and whether all 16 to 19 year olds should receive funding and remain in education.

 Charles, 17, a pupil at Bishop Wordsworth’s School, said: “I believe it is essential for 16 and 17 year olds to have the vote and it is a great disservice to those young people that they are obliged to pay taxes and have other legal rights yet are unable to vote and have their say.”