YOUNG people at Featherstone High School grilled local politicians as part of Local Democracy Week.

European Local Democracy Week is an annual event that aims to promote greater awareness of local democracy and political participation. Ealing Council arranged a host of events specifically aimed at engaging young people in local politics and decision-making.

One of these was political speed-dating event at Featherstone High School in Montague Waye, Southall, where AS-Level students and school council members take turns at putting questions directly to Ealing councillors from across the political spectrum on a number of topics.

At the end of the event they voted for their favourite local politician, with councillor Justin Anderson (Conservative, Perivale ward) coming out on top and the leader of Ealing Council Julian Bell (Greenford Green ward, Labour) coming second.

There was also a junior version of Question Time in the council chamber earlier this month, as teenagers were given the chance to quiz local politicians and the Acting Vice Chair of the University of West London, Professor Kath Mitchellon, on a variety of topics including healthy schools and equal marriage.

The Young Mayor’s Competition asked school children to submit pictures, poems and written work describing their concerns and priorities, and what they would do to make a difference.

More than 400 children got involved, and the winning entry will be chosen by councillor Mohammed Aslam, Mayor of Ealing.

Mr Bell said: “I hope that last week’s events gave Ealing’s youngsters a taste for politics and an insight into how decisions are made. Many of the services that directly affect people’s lives are governed at a local level and we have been using Local Democracy Week to speak directly to the voters, and perhaps even the politicians, of tomorrow.”