A TEENAGER with a passion for politics is promising to fight for young people in Inverclyde as he takes his seat in the UK Youth Parliament.
Gourock's Matthew Quinn, who was elected as a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) in February, is the first young person from the area to take on the UK role, and says he will make sure the voices of Inverclyde's younger residents are heard in Westminster.
The 18-year-old says he is is relishing the challenge of a debate in the House of Commons as he takes his seat with young people from elsewhere in Scotland as well as England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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The former St Columba's High pupil was voted in as an MSYP on the promise of transparency, and has been making his voice heard in Inverclyde as he fights for young people to get a seat on the local education committee.
Now he has a UK wide platform as he continues to campaign to improve access to sports facilities while taking on misogyny and working to change the attitudes of other teenage boys.
Matthew, who is now studying politics at Glasgow University, said: "It is a real privilege to get the chance to represent Inverclyde and the rest of the west of Scotland in the UK Youth Parliament.
"It is an even bigger stage for local young people's voices to be heard. As far as I know I am the first from Inverclyde.
"It is a big platform."
Former head boy Matthew recently took part in a Scottish Youth Parliament debate at Holyrood, the first time such an event has happened since the pandemic, alongside fellow Inverclyde MSYP Maya McCrae.
Tele columnist Matthew added: "I have really loved being in the Scottish Parliament. It has been really important to make sure young people's voices are heard locally.
"One council official told me he has heard more from me in a just a few months than any other MSYP.
"I am determined to fight to get a young person elected onto the education committee. It is so important that our voices are heard."
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Matthew says that his mum Lynne, a local independent councillor in Gourock, has been his greatest influence politically.
He said: "I come from a family who have always been very active in their community. My grandfather was a rep for tenants going back to the70s and 80s.
"My mum is inspirational and I think she has done exceptionally well, speaking up for the people she represents, taking on road blocks in her way.
"She just gets things done. Her attitude is 'let's get it sorted'. She doesn't let anything stand in her way."
Earlier this year Matthew took part in a conference led by West Scotland Labour MSP Katy Clark in Inverclyde, which looked at tackling violence against girls and women.
He says that challenging attitudes from a young age is key, along with providing young people with safe places to go to keep them out of harm's way.
He said: "I am concerned about the influences young boys are exposed to on social media and to be combat this we need to have facilities for young people.
"That is why I campaigned on better access to sports facilities."
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