My journey in Parliament began long before I ever stepped into Westminster. It started in Cumberland, listening to young people in schools, youth groups, and rural communities who wanted someone to speak up for them. That local grounding shaped everything I do, and it is what ultimately led me to speak on behalf of young people in the House of Commons.
I was elected as the first ever Youth MP for Cumberland, at a unique moment in our area’s history. My election took place before the split from Cumbria County Council, meaning I stepped into the role just as Cumberland was becoming a newly formed unitary authority. That brought real opportunity, the chance to help shape youth representation from the very beginning, but it also came with challenges. There was no existing blueprint for how youth voices should work in a new authority, which meant learning quickly, building relationships, and ensuring young people were not lost in the transition. Being the first has meant responsibility, but also the privilege of setting a strong standard for meaningful youth representation which will continue for generations.
From the outset, I made a clear decision about the kind of representative I wanted to be. I have always taken a non-political, people-first approach. This role has never been about pushing one agenda or ideology. It is about doing what is right for my constituency. That means being willing to work with anyone, regardless of their views, if it leads to better outcomes for young people. At times, it has meant putting my own beliefs aside to represent the clear majority view of my constituency, because that is what genuine representation demands.
As a young person navigating the complexities of Parliament, I have had the opportunity to contribute to debates on political education, rural issues, and support for young people in agriculture. These experiences have given me a deeper understanding of how national decision-making works from the inside, while reinforcing the importance of grounding every contribution in the lived experiences of young people back home.
One of the most significant milestones in my journey has been my role on the Youth Select Committee. I am incredibly proud to be the first person from Cumbria to serve as a member and to be appointed Chair of the Select Committee. The Committee is currently undertaking a UK-wide inquiry into PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) education, an issue consistently raised by young people as vital to their wellbeing, safety, and future opportunities as they enter adult life and progress.
As Chair, I have worked closely with Parliamentary staff, experts, teachers, organisations, and young people from across the United Kingdom to gather evidence on what is working and where the system is falling short. We are now in the crucial stage of forming recommendations to the government, ensuring they are shaped directly by the voices and experiences of young people themselves. This work has shown me just how powerful youth-led scrutiny can be when young people are trusted to lead serious policy conversations.
Community has always been at the heart of my work. Everything I do is shaped by conversations with young people, schools, youth groups, and partners across Cumberland. Rural communities often face challenges that are overlooked in national debates, and I have made it a priority to ensure these voices are not only heard, but properly understood.
A clear example of this approach is my work on the issue commonly referred to as the “family farm tax.” Proposed changes to inheritance tax rules have caused deep concern for farming families. In a constituency with over 1,000 farms, many of which are family-run and passed down through generations, this policy risks forcing families to sell land or assets simply to meet a tax bill. Farms are often asset-rich but cash-poor, and uncertainty alone can undermine long-term planning. While the government has made partial changes, I believe a full U-turn is still needed to properly protect family farms, rural livelihoods, and food security. On this issue, as with many others, I have focused on real-world impact rather than political positioning.
Alongside my parliamentary work, I am also a mechanical engineering apprentice, and this has strongly shaped my views on skills, progression, and opportunity. Apprenticeships are a vital route into industry, especially for young people who choose vocational and practical pathways. However, too often progression is limited by how the apprenticeship levy is currently used. I believe the levy should do more to support higher-level qualifications, allowing apprentices to continue developing their skills as industries evolve. Covering advanced and higher-level training would help retain talent, support productivity, and ensure young people can build long-term careers rather than hitting a ceiling just as they are ready to progress.
I am also dyslexic, and this has played an important role in shaping who I am. Dyslexia has meant I have had to work differently and build resilience from a young age. In environments that rely heavily on written processes, this can be challenging, but it has also been a strength. It has made me a better listener, a clearer communicator, and more determined to ensure that young people with different learning styles never feel excluded from leadership opportunities.
One of the proudest moments of my work locally has been writing the foreword for Cumberland Council’s Youth Participation and Engagement Strategy. As a Youth MP, it was important to me that this document made clear that youth voice is not an afterthought, but a core part of how decisions should be made. The strategy sets out a commitment to ensuring young people are meaningfully involved in shaping services and policies that affect their lives not just consulted, but listened to and acted upon.
Throughout my journey, I have often reflected on what it means to be Cumbrian and British. For me, being British is not about one identity or one background. It is about shared values of fairness, responsibility, respect, and the belief that everyone deserves a voice. Growing up in a rural community taught me that Britain looks different depending on where you stand, but people across the country want the same things: opportunity, security, and pride in the place they call home.
My work in the United Kingdom Youth Parliament and the House of Commons has reinforced how important it is that voices from every corner of the country are part of national conversations. I want to help build a country where people, rural and urban, vocational and academic, young and old feel represented and respected, and where young people are proud not only of where they come from, but confident in where we are going together.
Looking ahead, I believe the future of Cumberland depends on young people continuing to influence decisions both locally and nationally. With upcoming elections for the next Youth MP, I want to encourage young people to stand, vote, and get involved. Youth voice is not optional; it is essential.
Being the first Youth MP for Cumberland has been an immense honour. It has shown me that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room or pushing a single agenda. It is about listening, collaborating, and always putting the people you represent first. I hope my journey shows that young people from all backgrounds, rural, vocational, neurodivergent, have a rightful place in shaping the future of our county and our country.