Girl’s guide to voting

AN Oldham Girl Guide is championing the voice of young women as she prepares to vote for the first time at a General Election.

Rebecca Harnett (22) is one of 10,000 guides who will be voting for the first time tomorrow. The assistant leader with the 4th Oldham Brownies at St Paul’s Royton wants the next government to take action for girls by supporting guiding’s “Girls Matter” campaign.

Guides have been calling on all politicians to support eight policies that will improve their lives, including schools taking a zero-tolerance approach to sexual bullying and harassment, a call on the next government to get more women MPs in Parliament and ensuring girls’ rights are made an international development priority.

The calls for change are based on consultations with more than 2,400 girls aged 7-25.

Rebecca, who graduated from Lancaster University last year and currently works in fundraising for a charity, said: “I hope the next government will give girls equal opportunities and encouragement to reach their full potential.”

Rebecca is also urging all girls eligible to vote in tomorrow’s election to make sure their voices heard.

In the 2010 General Election more than nine million women didn’t use their vote.

Rebecca added: “No vote is wasted, except one that isn’t cast.”