A POLITICAL row has broken out after members of Warrington Borough Council’s executive board snubbed more than 100 young people demonstrating outside the Town Hall.
The placard-carrying youngsters were protesting about cuts in education spending by the coalition government and by the borough council.
They included Tom Jennings, member of the Youth Parliament for Warrington South, who said the demonstration marked the beginning of a long campaign to make sure young people were always a top priority for Warrington Borough Council.
He said: “We saw approximately 100 young people come out in the freezing cold and in the dark, during the exams period, to fight for services, provision and representation and we raised our concerns in the loudest way we possibly could. And yet not one member of the executive board, or officers, even came out to acknowledge the protest or our concerns, which really is a disgrace considering their roles as representatives and the passion of the young people who came to make their voices heard.”
Among the protesters was Nick Bent, unsuccessful Labour candidate for Warrington South at the General Election.
He said it was heartening to see the youngsters making their views known and a clear rebuke to those older people who wrongly claim that young people neither know nor care what’s going on in politics.
He added: “It was a non-party political event that the young people planned, organised and led themselves, and as expected it was entirely peaceful.”
Inside the Town Hall, council leader Ian Marks, referred to the demonstration but pointed out that the issue was not on the agenda for this particular meeting. However, the council would be meeting IMPACT, the Warrington Youth Council, the following day, when their concerns would be addressed.
After the meeting, Cllr Marks said: “The Council strongly believes that consulting with young people on a variety of issues that concern them is very important. We have a very good track record at this.
” IMPACT is a representative cross-section of young people and we will .listen to what they have to tell us with interest.”
But he added: “The protest outside the Town Hall appears to have been encouraged by the Labour Party. Some of the information in a leaflet they handed out is misleading and some is just plain wrong.
“The Labour Party has left the country in a huge financial mess and sadly no group in society is immune from making their contribution towards putting this right.”
Pictured: the protesters outside the Town Hall.
17 Comments
The Council did the right thing in ignoring the protest, any acknowledgement would have added credibilty to the idiots protesting.
Had Nick Bent been the successful Labour candidate does anyone think he would be adding his support?
Eagle… WHY are they ‘idiots’ for protesting ???? Also WHY has it suddenly become a political issue… other than the fact thet Clr Marks has now made it one by his comment. I do however think that Nick Bent should have stayed out of it as that has not helped it remain non-political either.
They are idiots for not appreciating that the country is in dire financial straits which means everyone will take a hit including students.
The fact that Councillor Ian Marks is making this a ‘Labour vs Council’ matter is completely wrong. Yes we had support from individuals who have political allegances but the hundred young people came as students, not Labour supporters…
As for consultation, many IMPACT members and young people didn’t make it to the meeting last night because of the many exams that are happening throughout this week. Also a lot more of the questions came from Warrington Disability Partnership and Priestely College students, so it shows that all consultation needs to be Public and not just with groups and organisations that the Council are friendly with.
At the end of the day, their own ignorance will be their own downfall because if they continue to ignore our views and are committed to cutting on our services, then young people will inevitably be committed to cutting their parties out of politics in future elections.
I thought that this was a very well organised protest, very peaceful, polite and good humoured.
It was a non-party event and any councillors of whatever their political affiliation were asked to show their support by the youngsters if they so wished.
I was there because having worked with connexions earlier in the year on a NEET project and having two youngsters at university I know how they feel.
On a related issue I was very pleased to attend the presentation of the Diana Award for Excellence that was given to IMPACT by the Chief Exec last Tuesday evening. A number of the youngsters of the Youth Council, who had been there, were also at the protest. Diana Terris (no the award wasn’t named after her) praised the youngsters at and she clearly didn’t think that they were idiots. In fact I saw her silhouette, on the, night looking down from the top floor of the Town Hall window, I’m not sure if she was waving or not.
Eagle… if it had been adults protesting yould you have still called them ‘idiots’. Yes the country is in a dire financial state but that doesn’t mean that people (of any age) should just sit back and accept all cuts and decisions that are being made. I guess in your eyes all leaders and decision makers should clearly have a free reign to do whatever they ‘think’ is right regardless of how it may adversely affect people both now and long term. OR maybe you would have preferred the protest to have been more radical like the ones in London… that way you may have had a right to call them idiots.
“They included Tom Jennings, member of the Youth Parliament for Warrington South, who said the demonstration marked the beginning of a long campaign to make sure young people were always a top priority for Warrington Borough Council.”
The not so young people, who in fact are the majority of the population, also want to be a top priority for Warrington Borough Council as well. So it seems that there will be much competition for diminishing financial resources.
Yes Dizzy , I would still have called them idiots if they had been adults, do you think they should have some leeway because of their ages. The students protesting are ignoring reality in their desperation to be noticed and given priority, they are way down the list if I was dishing out the money.
No I do not think they should get any leeway because of their ages… please don’t start classing me as being some form of an ‘Idiot’ too. What I am trying to say is that they are entitled to have their say just like everyone else regardless of wether they actually get their own way or what they would like… It is not their fault that the country is in such a mess just as it is not our fault either … it’s the governments fault. the bankers faults, and the fault of all the others who ‘thought they knew best’ but screwed it all up !!! PS I don’t for one minute support any funding going towards things like youth clubs etc IF it results in reduced funding for more important things such as Education. the NHS, social care etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. BUT where the councils have been given monies towards such youth provisions they should have used it accordingly and not redirected it elsewhere. This IDIOT is now rambling again so has chosen to say no more for now 🙂 🙂 🙂
Rod King has had his say and look where that has got us…..
Nick Bent haha what a joke – he’s the one that said the incinerator was going in every Labour Ward to make mischeif – Sounds like we have a Woolas about!!
I believe the Youth are right to protest but don’t be tricked into thinkingLabour are there for you.
Sometimes I do think that schools should teach commonsense
Your a ballon – typical labour follow like sheep one by one
Tom – Your sound as though you are saying it’s my ball but they won’t let me play.
61% of students at Winwick/Padgate Campus should have EMA so do you think that the other 39% that don’t need it should? Do you think that the Public Purse that Labour did not control should give to that 39% – facts from the Student Union on the web site.
Now do youunderstand why the stop button has to be pressed?
and I think that the Lib Dems will balance these factors
M Reader… what about the sudents that have already been receiving EMA that clearly shouldn’t be !! Totally unfair in my opinion !!!!
I think they deserve lots more money, just counted the photo and there’s 64 protesters (including the feet far right) Tom needs more money for maths lessons!