A Wolverhampton Youth MP is preparing to lead a debate in the House of Commons during Parliament Week.

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Amias Perry will be the debate lead for the West Midlands when the UK Youth Parliament meets on Friday (10 November) to discuss a series of motions affecting young people today.

Amias will sum up - from the Despatch Box - Youth MPs' discussions on the motion to protect LGBT+ people, which says that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender+ young people deserve to be treated the same as everyone else, and that discrimination needs to be challenged.

In doing so, he will become the second young person from Wolverhampton to act as debate lead since the Youth Parliament has held annual debates at the House of Commons. In 2011, James Potts became the first Wulfrunian to hold that honour.

The debate will be broadcast on BBC Parliament and Amias said: "I feel deeply honoured to be able to represent the young people of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands in the House of Commons.

"It is very exciting to have the opportunity to make their voices heard at the Dispatch Box, and to be a part of this great event in youth democracy."

Amias will be joined by Millie Betteridge and another 300 members of the UK Youth Parliament to experience life on the famous green leather benches on Friday.

Millie said: "I'm honoured and excited to represent the youth voice of Wolverhampton in the House of Commons. I'm privileged to have this experience and to be part of such an empowering event."

Councillor Val Gibson, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "I'd like to wish Amias and Millie all the best for Friday's debate and will be watching with interest on BBC Parliament."

The debate will be chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, with other motions focusing on the school curriculum, transport, work experience opportunities and giving 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote.

Nearly 950,000 young people across the UK took part in a ballot to decide the issues that will be debated. A record of 8,713 votes were cast in Wolverhampton, with more than a third of the City's young people taking part.

The debate forms part of Parliament Week, an annual event which aims to build greater awareness, understanding and engagement with parliamentary democracy in the UK.

  • released: Tuesday 7 November, 2017