With the 2017 general election less than three weeks away and the deadline for registering just around the corner, there has never been a more crucial time for encouraging people to come out and vote.
There has also been a large shift in targeting the youth vote and in recent weeks, we have seen JME sit down with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, rapper Lowkey come out and offer his opinion on the political landscape and the hashtag #grime4corbyn start trending online. But is enough being done to engage our youth? We wanted to share the opinions of voters so touched base with 4 people to get their opinions on the upcoming election and why they think young people need to register to vote and turn out on June 8th.
JB – Editor at Radar Radio
How much do you care about politics?
Too much. I read all kinds of different websites throughout the day to try and give myself a more rounded view of events. I’m also a big fan of Monocle’s news radio shows which air a couple times each day – highly recommended – and the BBC of course.
Is enough being done to engage young people in politics?
In answer to your question: If you were to ask “Do politicians want young people to engage in politics?” my answer would be again be no. Kids should be taught politics in school, sure, but after that point it’s on you to educate yourself about the political system you live in. I don’t think there’s ever been as important an election, for young people, as we’re about to endure in June, so you can’t play the “I don’t understand” card. It’s vital do your research and ask questions.
People need to stop this stupid belief that “nothing will change,” because that’s exactly what “they” (whoever “they” are) want you to think
I hosted a radio show on Radar a few weeks ago to try and inform our age group about what’s happened over the past 10 years (how we got here basically). The thing I was most surprised by is that a lot of young people, and indeed musicians, have a weird ego complex when it comes to politics. They don’t want to be seen as not understanding topics/ policies, or getting things wrong, so they don’t engage. Our nationwide lack of political education, understanding and inquisitiveness is exactly the reason why people don’t engage. I really wish people would stop thinking there’s a right or wrong way to think or feel with regards to politics. Read sources from both sides, check the facts, and come to your own conclusions, and you’ll be as ‘right’ as anyone else.
Why do you think young people need to vote in the upcoming general election?
Because it’s the older generation who support the Conservatives/UKIP, and the 18-24 age group consistently has the lowest “turnout” in elections (just 44% of 18-24 year olds voted in 2010, for example). That’s a huge reason why the recent local elections saw such dramatic gains for the Conservatives, because only around 30% of the population bothered to vote. In the Tees Valley local election in 2017, turnout was at 21% and the Conservative candidate won by 481 votes… you can argue that with so few people voting, the result isn’t indicative of the local community’s wishes. But who is to blame other than those who don’t vote? Nobody. People need to stop this stupid belief that “nothing will change,” because that’s exactly what “they” (whoever “they” are) want you to think, so you don’t bother, and nothing changes.
Denise - Social Media Marketer
How much do you care about politics?
Every day before school, up until Secondary school my mum would make me watch the news. This is where my interest in politics came about. I remember being 16 and being annoyed people didn’t think 16 year olds care about their future as much as an 18-year-old. It’s silly to be honest, will the laws passed not affect someone at 16 too? Anyways…I care about politics A LOT because I care about my future.
We now have an opportunity again to have a voice and be a part of picking a party that we feel actually cares about our future.
Is enough being done to engage young people in politics?
Without diving in TOO much into race. I don’t think enough is being done to engage young people, but especially young black people. There has recently been a rise in platforms which are solely based in engaging young people but not particularly black people. The reason why I say this is because the topics and laws focused on these platforms may discuss for example; housing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying young black youths don’t think about stuff like that but right now we have bigger fish to fry. The epidemic of knife crime among us for example. Black British youth walk a different life and experience a different life. We need platforms not only to engage youth but engage ALL youths. But to answer your question in short form, not enough is being done to engage young people in politics.
Why do you think young people need to vote in the upcoming general election?
Young people need to vote in the upcoming GE because we’re always complaining that things aren’t fair, we’re at a disadvantage in life because so and so party is in power, no one listens to us. Blah blah. We now have an opportunity again to have a voice and be a part of picking a party that we feel actually cares about our future. I could go on to be honest. Just do the right thing and vote.
Fawaz – Founder of motivational platform DXA LDN
How much do you care about politics?
To be quite honest with you, my attention to politics isn’t that high, but what I can say is that I am very aware of what is going around in our country and what new laws are being put forward. I follow the news regularly, to keep up to date. I personally think that for me I care more about the outcomes rather than what the politicians say.
I’ve got to admit, politics may seem boring to a lot of youth, but if our futures are put on the line then, WE the future should engage ourselves.
Is enough being done to engage young people in politics?
No, not at all. My young brother and sisters of this generation, a lot of us don’t know enough about politics. You’ll find that a number of youth don’t know who the prime minister of the country is. Schools have not really taught us anything about the politics that we live with currently, we learn more about historical politics than what is actually going on right now in our very own country. I’ve got to admit, politics may seem boring to a lot of youth, but if our futures are put in the line then, WE the future should engage ourselves.
Why do you think young people need to vote in the upcoming general election?
It’s simple, our lives, our future and our education is on the line, the only way you can have your way is by first registering to vote and then voting on Election Day. Don’t complain if the outcome of the votes doesn’t go the way you want, honestly speaking, every single vote counts. So I’m calling all the youth who are eligible to vote. Please do so.
Scully – Writer and Presenter
How much do you care about politics?
I care about politics a lot less than I care about my family’s well-being, and slightly less than I care about the state of music. Politics is something that affects the two things I mentioned prior, so it’s only natural I would be worried about the way it’s moving forward, or in the case of certain policies and politicians, moving backward. Politics is something that doesn’t work as well as it should, but has the power to completely alter our quality of life. Kind of like hotel air conditioning. Except, when the air conditioning isn’t working you can either read the manual, or call someone to fix it. The problem is, when we call people to fix it, they all stand around discussing trivial things like the cost, or the best manner in which to arrive to the one solution…which is the thing not being broken. But in the end, nothing ends up getting fixed. And not everybody has the time or the tools to read the manual and get it done themselves.
This a time for everyone to unilaterally have their voice heard and to have a hand in guiding the direction of the country.
Is enough being done to engage young people in politics?
Not even close. The way young people think in this instant generation, they see something not working and don’t even want to interact with it. They know they deserve more from the system, and at this stage don’t even see what the system does for them. There’s no lure or attraction to really getting stuff done in politics, just memes and moaning. The Government need to find ways to not only interact with all sorts of people, but to get them to interact with each other for genuine discourse, and then eventually understand each other.
Why do you think young people need to vote in the upcoming general election?
Because the events that will unfold after a major decision will affect their lives, their peers, their younger siblings and their children more than it will the previous generations. This a time for everyone to unilaterally have their voice heard and to have a hand in guiding the direction of the country. It must be seized, and to grow the truest picture of the country, we have to get as many of us, of all ages and backgrounds, involved.
