Name: Matthew Windle

Position: MYP

Constituency: North Yorkshire

Which political issues are you most passionate about?

My main political passions are helping to improve the facilitation of transport to young people, building stronger relationships between MYPs and their electorate, and helping institutions such as the NHS and schools implement various schemes for young people.

What do you feel is the biggest issue for young people in your constituency?

The biggest issue in my own constituency of North Yorkshire is the varied and haphazard approach to public transport. More importantly, the consistently rising prices and the reduction in the level of services create a situation where young people in rural areas find it difficult to travel.

What do you hope to achieve during your term of office?

I am hoping to bring awareness of the problems of transportation, so that we can effect change by reducing costs and increasing the frequency of services. I would also like to strengthen UKYP in my local area, by doing assemblies in schools, and promoting my activities on facebook and bringing petitions straight to young people.

What is your future career ambition?

I would like to go into teaching, specialising in history and politics, then perhaps with that experience go into politics at a local level by becoming a councillor. Then with that experience go into national politics.

Which public figure do you most admire and why?

John Major is the politician I most admire, not because of his political beliefs, but because such as ordinary man made an extraordinary achievement. As he quotes in his autobiography in his last election campaign of 1997.

“I didn't come from two rooms in Brixton to 10 Downing Street not to go out and fight with every fiber of my being for the things I believe in and the country I love”.

If there was one message you could send to the government, what would it be?

My first and only message is that by having political and institutional reform you are treating the symptom, not the cause of the democratic deficit. It is not a structural problem, but a loss of connection. I would like to see MPs spend less time in Westminster debating national issues, but supporting local authorities on issues that matter locally.

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