I have been a staunch advocate for older people in beautiful East Devon. This has included speaking up in Parliament for the Triple Lock on pensions, through to being a stickler for older people’s access to services through traditional means, such as high street bank branches, and railway ticket offices. Today, I would like to give up my column to younger people.

Last year Devon County Council spent just under £2million on all youth services across the county; an almost trivial sum in the context of their wider £1.7billion budget. A tiny fraction of this sum would make a huge difference to local volunteer groups that are supporting young people. I visited one such last week – Headlight, that does vital work in Axminster and Ottery St Mary.

Those of us who are adults now are merely custodians of our planet. Many of us seek to pass on to our children a world that is slightly better than the one we inherited. We Liberal Democrats seek to make policy decisions that look to the long term.

It is vital we ensure the voices of young people are heard. We should give them the opportunity to help shape our decision-making. That’s why the British Youth Council was established, and why the Youth Parliament plays a key role in giving a voice to young people across the country.

I learned recently that Devon will not be participating in the British Youth Council’s youth Parliament. I do understand the huge challenges facing local government finances, but I feel this decision to withdraw from the British Youth Council is wrong.

Last year, I was lucky enough to have one of Devon’s Youth Parliament members spend a week volunteering in my office. Emiko is passionate about ensuring young voices from rural and coastal communities are heard. She has used her time as an ‘MYP’ (Member of Youth Parliament) to encourage other young people to register to vote.

It was great to get to work with her. I am just sad that, as her term nears its end, there will not be another person like her taking up the mantle if Devon is to withdraw from the scheme.

Given climate change and the nature crisis, we need young people around the table now more than ever. We should seek to help them leave a great country to another generation who we may never see.

If we want to create thriving communities that remain attractive places for people to live, work, and start a family, then we must ensure we put our young people at the heart of our planning.