Rising star quizzes Lib Dem Leader

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 22nd Feb 2008

Rising star of Rochdale Liberal Democrats Atifa Shah from Deeplish last night put Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg MP on the spot over plans for young people. Atifa, 20, the former Youth Member of Parliament for the Borough impressed all. She was speaking in front of over 300 party members including several MPs including Paul Rowen and Councillors and members from across Rochdale.

Atifa stood up and part of her question was: "Have you got a strategy to engage more young people in politics and the Liberal Democrats?"

Nick Clegg answered: "The Liberal Democrats have a great track record of engaging with young people like you. I am very pleased to see people like you involved in politics at such a young age. When you look at many of the political issues involving young people our party is taking the lead. This includes student poverty, the environment and our foreign policy. I believe that any young person, from any background, from an area should have every opportunity. That's what the Liberal Democrats stand for and with more and more young people getting involved in the party like you we have a bright future."

Atifa, last year was one of two people in the region to be invited onto a leadership programme held at Oxford University to gain skills in becoming a future leader. She is currently studying Management and Computing at Manchester University and is set to play a key part in the Local Election Campaign in May.

Paul Rowen MP said: "The event was a great success and I was very impressed to see Atifa playing a leading role. Nick was very impressed with her commitment and her interest. I am sure that Atifa will be a rising star in our party. Indeed she is already referring cases that people come to her to sort out to me. Nick Clegg is setting up a centre of excellence for our MPs of the future. I will not hesitate to recommend Atifa and hope that she will play a leading role in politics in this Borough."