Most progressives will consider the extension of the franchise to 16- & 17-year-olds a step forward. According to Keir Starmer it’s ‘because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes’. It’s considered the most significant change since 18-year-olds were given the vote in 1989. 16-year-olds are already … Continue reading Votes at 16. Extending citizenship or gesture politics?
Category: Youth and the General Election
Young people and support for Reform.
Although Generation Z (all those born in the late 1990s to 2010) is known for its diverse and evolving political views, generally it’s seen as more liberal compared to older generations. Tending to back progressive causes (particularly action on climate change) it is considered to lean left. It’s dependency on social media (the ‘zoomers’) and … Continue reading Young people and support for Reform.
Starmer promises to extend the franchise: but will young people vote at all?
Because they know that only an (ever decreasing) minority will vote for them, the Tories have never tried to seriously engage with young voters. The Tories have published two major policy initiatives, a reintroduced National Service and a plan to replace ‘Micky Mouse’ degrees with more apprenticeships. But these have been aimed at their ageing … Continue reading Starmer promises to extend the franchise: but will young people vote at all?
With Millennials voting, things can only get better?
While most people accept that data from recent general elections show young people unlikely to vote Tory. https://www.britishelectionstudy.com/bes-findings/age-and-voting-behaviour-at-the-2019-general-election/#.Y7KwWyjMJOg It has also been argued that political sympathies are likely to change with age. The popular press continues to bang on about ‘generation gaps’, while pollsters have reported big shifts in allegiance amongst more elderly voters in … Continue reading With Millennials voting, things can only get better?
Will young people be voting on Thursday?
Traditional relationships between class and voting behaviour are not what they used to be. This week’s Euro-election will, it seems, only confirm this, with Labour desperately trying to unite ‘pro-Brexit’ traditional northern working-class supporters with recent converts – the more affluent socially progressive but staunchly pro-European voters of London and the south. Despite the excessive … Continue reading Will young people be voting on Thursday?
No budget for the young
With young voters flocking to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in the last General Election https://education-economy-society.com/2017/06/20/young-voters-flock-to-labour/ you’d think the Tories would have wanted to use this week’s budget as an opportunity to win back some lost ground. But, as one disaster follows another, May and Hammond are just as desperate to shore up their existing support and so, … Continue reading No budget for the young
Young voters flock to Labour
Recently released data from the polling organisation YouGov shows the extent of young people’s willingness to back Labour in the recent General Election, with the party enjoying over three times as much support from 18-24-year-old voters as the Conservatives - amongst 18 and 19 year olds, support was even stronger with 66% opting for Labour compared … Continue reading Young voters flock to Labour
Education, Economy and Society 