“To be a politician who represents young people in Stevenage honestly and fairly.”

It might not be a sentiment you often hear from politicians, but it is the ambition of the town’s first ever youth MP, who has been voted in to office by pupils from Stevenage schools.

In fact 16-year-old Mason Humberstone has even bigger ambitions, listing Barack Obama as one of his role models, and sees the role as a big first step in his political career.

Mason who is studying for A-levels and BTECs at the The Barclay School, was previously a Stevenage youth councillor and ran unsuccessfully for youth mayor.

He said: “I think there’s a lot of things that go on that young people are unhappy about and this is my chance to change things.

“All my spare time will be dedicated to this. I’ve got people relying on me to do things and I will do as much as I can while I’m youth MYP.”

Mason says the top three youth issues he will champion for young people are mental health, lesbian and gay rights and improving relationships between police and young people.

“I think one-in-four people suffer from mental health issues. It’s wrong how we focus so much on physical health and not what’s going on inside a person.

“It comes down to awareness and then improving mental health services.”

Mason has been given special responsibility for promoting equality in Hertfordshire, a position his relatively modest Stevenage upbringing makes him well suited for.

“I definitely want a career in politics. I have been through difficulties and my mum brought us up as a single parent and gave everything she could to us.

“I’m not someone who has lots of money. My background means I can represent people on the real issues they care about.”

Mason will attend meetings at Hertfordshire County Council’s headquarters and at Westminster and will undergo a programme of training for his role.

He is one of ten MYPs and deputy MYPs covering the county.

The scheme is operated and jointly funded by the British Youth Council and the county council. The government committed to four more years’ funding for MYPs in January..