What are Politicians Able to Deliver for the Next Generation of Voters?
| Published date | 01 December 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/20419058241305493 |
| Author | Evelyn Field |
| Date | 01 December 2024 |
DECEMBER 2024•POLITICAL INSIGHT31
Young people are the future of
our democracy but they are
struggling to connect with party
politics. Politicians are able to
create change in our ever-evolving society,
so they need to bridge this divide and
deliver what is urgently needed. Politicians
need to acknowledge progressive policies,
which will increase the likelihood of young
people joining and voting for a party.
Politicians who advocate for issues such as
mental health and the failing housing market
tend to gain a younger base of support. The
rise of ideas surrounding climate change has
also engaged more young people in politics
through peaceful protests, inspired by Greta
Thunberg and her school strikes. This new
generation of activists and those joining the
franchise have much in common as they
both want action from those in power.
The lack of representation in the House
of Commons and House of Lords must also
be addressed. The average age of members
in the Commons is 51. In the Lords it is 71.
This demographic struggles to relate to the
experiences of people who have grown up
with recent digital technology and the largest
health crisis in decades. That means the
policies being created ‘for’ them are those of
politicians who cannot relate to their lives.
Yet with the election of younger
parliamentarians such as the Scottish
National Party’s Mhairi Black and Labour’s
Nadia Whittome, there has been a shift in the
Commons towards the concerns of younger
people. Black and Whittome have drawn
attention to issues such as LGBT+ concerns,
social reform and environmental protection.
This shift is appearing at a slower pace in
the Lords, with the appointment of Baroness
Smith of Llanfaes who has spoken out about
the need for reform having been made a Plaid
Cymru peer earlier this year at the age of 28.
Political parties are able to deliver a more
representative Parliament. Leaders just
need to put their trust in up-and-coming
politicians. That will allow discussion of
views from those who better understand the
younger generation.
Now more than ever, social media plays
an integral role in gaining the support of
young people. Politicians often do not make
What are Politicians Able
to Deliver for the Next
Generation of Voters?
Young people care about politics but lack representatives to reflect
their views, writes Evelyn Field, winner of the PSA’s Student Blog
competition.
ecient use of these platforms, which are
key in expanding the younger franchise. They
provide an opportunity for politicians to better
communicate with younger people. However,
they should not be drawn into the gimmicky
nature of much social media content.
The next generation wants to be spoken
to as equals and provided with platforms
to learn from. It is possible to deliver social
media content that would encourage young
people to engage with politics. Given that
young people are becoming disengaged
from other news outlets, this will prevent
them from being lost from the political world
and instead permit meaningful and eective
engagement.
Overall, the changes that are needed
are not constitutional; they are centred in
progressivism, representation and meaningful
engagement. Young people do care about
politics but lack representatives to reect their
views. The question is not what politicians are
able to deliver but what the next generation
can push the politicians to provide.
Evelyn Field is a politics student at
Calderstones School and winner of the
PSA’s Student Blog Competition. The
annual competition is open to students
aged 16-19 in full time secondary
education.
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