CUMBRIAN MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates encouraged young people to engage with politics during a lively Young People’s Election Question Time.

The event was organised by Young Cumbria at Newton Rigg College, near Penrith, on Saturday to give young people a voice ahead of the General Election.

About 80 young people aged from 13-25 took part, asking questions about engaging the youth vote, education, mental health and climate change.

The panel consisted of Rory Stewart, Conservative MP for Penrith and The Border, Labour MP for Barrow John Woodcock, the Liberal Democrat’s prospective parliamentary candidate in Penrith Neil Hughes, Green Party prospective parliamentary candidate Jill Perry, and UKIP prospective parliamentary candidate Fiona Mills.

All the panel stressed the importance of getting young people engaged in politics – and Mr Woodcock told the audience: “If you want to get things changed to your advantage you have to get to the ballot box and cast your vote.”

Elizabeth Coulthard asked the candidates what they were doing to tackle mental health problems among young people.

She said later, “It was a great event. Most young people are not interested in politics but it is really important for all our futures.

“There needs to be more education about politics in school.”