A SCHOOLBOY wants to clean up Southend’s beaches and get young people involved in politics as Prime Minister of the Sir David Amess Children’s Parliament.
Clark Dearson, ten, of Woodfield Park Drive, Leigh, is the second Southend student to get the top job in junior politics.
His predecessor, Thorpe Hall School student Harry Acheampong, 12, stepped down this year to attend secondary school.
The new PM said: “I’m extremely excited and honoured to have been elected to represent my fellow schoolchildren.”
In Southend, Clark plans to organise beach cleans and litter-picks “to make it a cleaner, greener city”.
He added: “I would like children to get involved and help around the city.”
The Year Six student became interested in politics a year ago, when his school, Saint Pierre in Leigh, joined the Children’s Parliament.
He said: “Sir Lindsay Hoyle gave us seats in a special gallery to watch Prime Minister’s Questions. It was very exciting.”
Victoria Dearson, Clark’s mother, says she is “astounded” by her son’s achievements.
She said: “Clark has been so successful. I’m really proud of everything he does. He’s a very high-achieving young man and tries his absolute best in every area of his life.”
Clark has ambitious plans to take the Children’s Parliament further, encouraging schoolchildren from all over the world and closer to home to take part in discussions.
He said: “I’d love to spread the word. Generally, not that many pupils in the Children’s Parliament, so I would like more people from this country to participate too. I want my decisions to be based on the wants and needs of the children of Great Britain.”
Previous Child Prime Minister Harry Acheampong recently returned from COP28 in Dubai, where he spoke about environmental issues such Britain’s fast fashion industry.
Southend West MP Anna Firth, who became Parliamentary champion for the Children’s Parliament following the tragic death of her predecessor, said: “I was delighted to meet with all the candidates, and I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to my constituent, Clark Dearson, on his election as Children’s Prime Minister.”
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