AFTER months of hard campaigning, Oxfordshire’s aspiring politicians have now been selected to represent the county at national level.

Sixteen candidates from schools across Oxfordshire stood for three coveted positions to become a Member of the Youth Parliament and represent either Oxford City, Oxfordshire North, or Oxfordshire South.

Three members have now been chosen, and along with their deputies to work with MPs, schools and youth groups to raise important issues on behalf of their peers.

UKYP elections, open to 11 to 18-year-olds, have been held since 1999, but Oxfordshire only joined the scheme in 2007.

Tyrone Steele, 15, who attends St Gregory the Great School,has been elected to represent Oxford City.He said: “If you had told me nine months ago I would be doing this, I would never have believed you, but I think it’s brilliant that our voices will be heard.”

Karim Khan, 14, from the Oxford Academy, in Sandy Lane West, will serve as Tyrone’s deputy.

He said: “This is a fantastic opportunity with lots of responsibility.”

Rachel Howse, 15, who attends Wheatley Park School and was elected as the member for South Oxfordshire and the Vale said: “I’m pretty excited and looking forward to hopefully getting some important work done.“ At a meeting last week, the members and their deputies agreed priorities they would pursue would be transport — particularly free travel for those in education — and tackling young people’s negative images.

OXFORDSHIRE’S members and their deputies are: • Oxford City Tyrone Steele, St Gregory the Great Catholic School (MYP) Karim Khan, Oxford Academy (deputy) • South Oxon/ Vale Rachel Howe, Wheatley Park School (MYP) Helen Walker, Larkmead School (deputy) • Cherwell/ West Oxon Sam Hatzigeorgiou, The Warriner School (MYP) Nathan Sinclair, Gosford Hill School (deputy) awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk