The UK Youth Parliament, a taxpayer-funded programme designed to boost young people's interest in politics, faces an uncertain future as the government is not committing to further grants. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will not provide more funding after March 2027, according to information learned last month.
Aman Fatima, MYP for Essex, has called for the programme not to be cut, stating that if funding is tight, there should be clear reasons and alternatives. The government has indicated it is developing a new scheme to increase young people's involvement in democracy and decision-making, with announcements expected this autumn.
The UK Youth Parliament, established in 1999 and run by the National Youth Agency, has over 300 elected members aged 11 to 18. It allows young politicians to hold debates in the House of Commons chamber annually. In the last year, the programme received £453,000 in taxpayer funding, with approximately £2.4 million in public money spent between 2017 and 2024.
While no final decision has been made on funding beyond March 2027, a government source indicated Downing Street would no longer commit to the programme "in its current form." Labour MP Jess Asato suggested the decision might stem from a desire for a greater diversity of voices, while Conservative MP Patrick Spencer cited the need for government cuts.