The Green Party have announced plans to put young people at the centre of the political process. Among the ideas set out at their annual conference in Newport, Wales were extending both the voting age and the right to stand for Parliament to 16 year olds, and a ‘minister for future generations’ to represent young people at the heart of government. The party also proposed bringing forward a ‘Future Generations Act’, which would require the needs of young people to be taken into account before every government decision. Another ambition of the party is to establish a young person’s select committee, made up of representatives from the Youth Parliament, with the power to scrutinise and hold the Government to account.

The conference fringe hosted a meeting on ‘Toxic Testing’ in schools, with Dr Mary Bousted of the National Education Union among the speakers. Vix Lowthion, education spokesperson for the party, said ‘Children are doing formal tests in every year bar two in their primary education. But they don’t inform teachers, they don’t benefit pupils, they only exist to hold schools to account. This toxic testing culture epitomises the fact that this government has lost its way when it comes to testing: a toxic slime which is choking our children and leading to pressure, negativity and anxious young people.’