The resignation of the UK's first  youth police and crime commissioner after the disclosure of a series of offensive posts made on her Twitter social networking site, reminded us of the enthusiasm within Boston Borough for a young mayor and youth council.

But before they let their eagerness run amok, we think that councillors who favour such a scheme should look at just what such an idea might achieve.
Above all, one of the things that struck us most forcefully was the ironic comparisons that can be made between those young folk who favour the idea and those older ones who have already been elected.
The young ‘uns who attended a meeting with officers and councillors were asked two basic questions … although really just one would have sufficed – but that’s local government for you!
– Why is it important for you to be involved in a Youth Council for Boston? 
and
– Why do you think it is important to have a Youth Council for Boston?
Compare their answers with those we might expect to come from the current generations of councillors …
Among the replies came responses such “gives someone something positive to do,” “getting your opinions recognised,”  “learning about the democratic system,” as well as making a difference, and having a voice, and to “help make Boston a better place.”
The youngsters taking part also felt that they would be listened to, have an influence on the community, would be involved in “something that means something,” and their comments were coupled with the lament “there isn’t a lot to do at our age.”
Being involved, they felt, would “give them more knowledge on how the democratic system works.”
Is the irony beginning to become clear?
To underline it, the following appeared in the cabinet papers covering the plan – “It was felt that a youth council should mirror the borough council.”
We are sure that many of the new intake of Boston borough councillors, elected for the first time in 2011, felt that they would be involved in “something that means something,” and that their opinions would be recognised; that they would make a difference and have a voice.
To varying degrees – and depending on where they stand politically – these people have since discovered that they have no voice at all, and are making little, if anything, of a difference to life in Boston.
This is because of the way the current “leadership” runs the ship – denying debate, refusing to listen to views other than their own, and working out of either self-interest or the interests of their big bosses at County Hall.
The demonstration of how democracy works is that  … it doesn’t.
A select elite calls the shots, and expects its party rump to do as it is told, while all shades of opposition are treated as non-existent.
And many of these “leaders” have played at politics for years and find that it keeps them busy in retirement – the grown-ups version of “there isn’t a lot to do at our age.”
It this really the sort of lesson that we wish to pass on to potential politicians of the future?
Having said that, whilst the council is keen to encourage a political youth cadre, we are uncertain as to how long it might last.
There are around 4,000 pupils of secondary school age in Boston.
Just ten pupils from five schools attended the meeting to discuss a Youth Council – and one of those schools was based in Horncastle.
Surely, our leaders should make sure that they are in a position to demonstrate open, honest politics of a model quality, rather than merely inculcate their shabby tired values on the next generation.
 

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