A TEENAGER from Milford Haven is spearheading a local campaign to reduce the voting age to 16.

Preseli-Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb recently welcomed Bethany Roberts to the constituency office in Haverfordwest.

Bethany, a student at Pembrokeshire College, is spearheading this year’s Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) campaign in Pembrokeshire, for votes for 16-year-olds.

After visiting the Houses of Parliament last year, along with MYPs from across the UK, the budding politicos were given the unique opportunity of debating in the House of Commons Chamber.

Mr Crabb said: “We are in exciting, unpredicted times for politics.

"It’s important that young people feel they have a voice, and the Youth Parliament is a brilliant forum for that.

"It was good to discuss the positive and negatives of lowering the voting age with Bethany, and I hope that as she continues working with the fantastic Youth Parliament that we’re able to continue to discuss this topic and others.”

Bethany said: “As an elected MYP and the Chair of Pembrokeshire Youth Assembly, I was pleased to have an opportunity to meet with Stephen Crabb to discuss with him the national campaign for the UK Youth Parliament Votes at 16.

“Meeting with Stephen Crabb was a great way to get the views of other young people living in Pembrokeshire heard, noticed and to move the campaign forward.

"I’m hoping this will be the start of an ongoing conversation and that we can work together in the future.”

Pembrokeshire Youth Services’ Nadine Farmer said: “Young people have an important role to play in the fast changing political arena, opportunities like this for young people to have direct communications with elected members of parliament are crucial in promoting their active engagement in the process.”