A CAMPAIGNING teenager from Ellesmere Port is running for a place in the Youth Parliament.

Whitby High School pupil Jessica Shakespeare, 16, is a candidate for the next election for the UK Youth Parliament which takes place in January and February.

The other five candidates for the West Cheshire constituency are Megan Cliffe, 14, from Winsford, Rebecca Annells, 14, from Crowton, Ciaran O’Shea, 15, from Malpas, Christian Collis, 14, also from Malpas, and Jessica Colston, 15, from Chester.

The Youth Parliament has been running for 10 years and is the only body apart from Members of Parliament who are entitled to hold debates in the Chamber of the House of Commons.

Cheshire West and Chester Council co-opts members of the West Cheshire team onto its various scrutiny committees and task groups and the team is responsible for a fund which promotes young and old working together.

The election runs from January 9 to February 17, and young people between the ages of 11-18 are entitled to vote. Voting usually takes place in schools across the borough.

In the last election in 2010 more than 9,500 votes were cast by young people from across the West Cheshire to elect their representative. This was a 59% increase on the turnout in the previous election.

Ron Davies of Connexions Cheshire & Warrington Ltd, which runs the Youth Parliament constituency on behalf of the council, said: “The process of being elected can be quite nerve-racking for the candidates. Their election speeches have to be filmed and screened in schools and this is not something many people of any age, let alone 14 or 15, have to do.

“The thing that always amazes me is just how assured many of the young people are”.

Norma Guest, chief executive of Connexions Cheshire and Warrington Ltd, said: “Congratulations to all the candidates for putting themselves forward and wanting to make a difference.

“I’m sure our newly elected MYPs will represent the views of West Cheshire’s young people with enthusiasm and passion. I wish them all a successful and enjoyable year.”