Members of the Press Gallery, whose honorary president is the Commons Speaker Rt Hon Michael Martin MP, include some of Britain's best known television and newspaper political journalists.

Claims that young people aren’t interested in politics were proved wrong by the big response to the competition. Judges for the contest were deluged with more than 400 entries from budding young journalists.

The winners were invited to spend a day in Westminster, during which they met the Prime Minister, Tony Blair and Michael Martin MP, as well as many of the newspaper and TV journalists who work in Parliament.

This year’s theme is the general election. With an election likely in 2005, entrants are invited to write about the policies they think the political parties should include in their election programmes and why these would be attractive to voters.

Once again, the competition will be divided into two year groups (10-11 and 12-13). Winners will be selected in each year group for each of the regions of England plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The winners will be invited to spend a day in Westminster, most likely in February next year.

Years 10-11

In a manifesto a political party declares what it would do if voted into power. Write a letter to the leader of any of the major political parties suggesting a new idea for their next manifesto. Explain carefully why you think your proposal would be popular with voters at the next general election.

Your letter should be word-processed and the contents no longer than 800 words.

Years 12-13

Write an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper suggesting how first–time voters can be persuaded to participate in the next general election. You could focus on political policies or voting procedures or both.

Your article should be word-processed and, with an appropriate headline, no longer than 1500 words.

For full details about the competition and how to enter, please see the ‘Competition Rules’ page.

Closing date for entries: Friday 26th November 2004.

The Press Gallery is delighted that once again the competition is being supported by the Times Educational Supplement, the Department for Education & Skills, the Parliamentary Education Unit and the Hansard Society; and is sponsored by Westminster Explained.

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