Young voters special: Watch our debate from the Rhondda

We filmed a debate in Porth on Friday afternoon, with the Rhondda candidates and an audience of young people. Credit: ITV News

Today we're holding a Young Voters Special - here on our website, and on air during Wales at Six.

It's all part of the ITV News School Debate project, aimed at getting more young people engaged in politics in the run up to the General Election.

Click here to find out more about the Election 2015 School Debate project

Tonight, we'll be showing highlights of a special debate we hosted at the Factory in Porth, featuring the candidates for the Rhondda constituency - and 50 pupils from four local schools asking the questions they wanted answering, and putting their own points across.

Watch an edited version of the debate - shown on Wales at Six on Monday 23 March:

We've also been asking young people what they'd do if they ran the country - and want to hear your manifesto ideas, and your opinions on politics and whether politicians pay enough attention to young people.

Click here to take part in our polls - Do you trust politicians? Will you vote?

Watch: Welsh sixth-formers' big ideas - "If I were in charge, I would..."

The statistics clearly show: the younger you are, the less likely you are to vote. At the last General Election, in 2010, just 44 per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds turned out. That compares to 76 per cent of over 65s - and an overall turnout of 65 per cent.

The concern, expressed by politicians and young people alike, is that the wishes and wants of the young will be forgotten, with the so-called 'grey vote' much more valuable.

Whose job it is to change that, make politicians more visible to young people, and vice-versa, is something that generates more disagreement and debate.

Watch: Chepstow Q&A - Do politicians do enough for young people?

The Scottish independence referendum last September saw a significant upsurge in political engagement, particularly among young people, with the voting age lowered to 16.

In Wales, the National Assembly's Presiding Officer, Dame Rosemary Butler, has launched a big Votes@16 conversation, asking 11 to 25-year-olds whether they think the voting age should be brought down for future polls here.

Click here to take part in our polls - Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

That was one of the issues raised by young people at our debate in Porth, filmed on Friday afternoon.

The panel featured local candidates for the Rhondda seat at May's General Election:

  • Chris Bryant MP, Labour

  • Lyn Hudson, Conservatives

  • Karen Roberts, Liberal Democrats (standing in for candidate George Summers)

  • Shelley Rees-Owen, Plaid Cymru

  • Ron Hughes, UKIP

Lyn Hudson (left), Ron Hughes, Shelley Rees-Owen, Chris Bryant and Karen Roberts (right).

50 sixth form pupils came from four Rhondda schools:

  • Porth County Community School

  • Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda, Porth

  • Ferndale Community School

  • Tonypandy Community College

Pupils got a chance to ask questions, and put their points across.

We also want to hear from you if you are aged between 16 and 25...

  • Do you trust politicians?

  • If you were eligible to vote on 7 May, would you?

  • Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

Click here to take part in our online polls

Or share your opinion on any issues concerning young people and politics, via:

The hashtag we're using is: #ITVSchoolDebate

Watch the full debate from the Rhondda here: