A RARE consensus emerged among prospective MPs when they put themselves in the firing line at Skipton’s Ermysted’s Grammar School.

It emerged that Julian Smith (Cons), Malcolm Birks (Lab), Jacquie Bell (Lib Dem), Andy Brown (Green) and Alan Henderson (UKIP) were of one voice when it came to whether young people aged 16 to 17 should have the right to vote. Yes they should, was their view.

The five would-be MPs for Skipton and Ripon were invited to show their colours by sixth formers at the school.

Taking the ‘David Dimbleby’ role was Nick Meadowcroft-Lunn, and he stood for no argy-bargy from the panel, ticking off some for interrupting opponents and putting them right on points of political history.

“If you can fight for your country, then you should be able to vote,” said Jacquie Bell.

Young people would be picking up the pieces of the environment spoiled by their elders, so they should have their say, said Andy Brown.

They were better educated than 16 and 17-year-olds of the past, so were well qualified to vote, said Alan Henderson.

“I have been very impressed by the high-quality questions I have received on meeting school leavers,” said Julian Smith.

And Malcolm Birks said: “Giving votes to young people can only be good for democracy. I think it is important to get them engaged in politics because they have a stake in the future of our country.”

Other questions to the panel included tuition fees, equality, the EU referendum and proportional representation.

A straw poll of the audience revealed an even split of those in favour and those against PR.

A question from the floor, from an Ermysted’s teacher, was about education funding which, it was claimed, had led to eight teachers taking voluntary redundancy at the school in the last three years.

The ‘husting’, held at lunchtime last Wednesday, was organised by sixth form students and there was re-run in the evening for the general public.