| 04.04.2008
In 2007-2008, the UK Youth Parliament surveyed 9,200 young people across the UK to ask them, “Are you engaged?”. We wanted to know how young people felt about lowering the voting age. However, what we found was something very different, bringing into question the value of, and opportunity for, political engagement by young people in the UK.
Of 9,200 young people surveyed across the UK:
- Over a third feel that politics doesn’t affect them;
- 60% haven’t or aren’t sure whether they’ve been taught about government and politics in school;
- 70% of all young people feel that their local council does not value the opinions of young people;
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Over half of 16-18 year olds do not believe the voting age should be lowered to 16.
“Most young people do not understand the way our political system works, what the major parties stand for, and how politics affects them. Even people with the vote struggle, and this shows in both local and general elections.”
Minhaz Khleya, 17
"It's really important for young people to be educated well enough to feel they know enough about politics to vote. We are told time after time that young people aren’t engaged, so why not act on it! Teach young people more about politics and they will start to feel like valid citizens."
Becki Fox, 16
The UK Youth Parliament believes that:
- All young people should be given the opportunity to learn about politics and how it affects their lives.
- Citizenship Education is inconsistent and failing young people. It must be standardised and deliveredas a compulsory short course in every school, and young people should be involved in devising that revitalised curriculum.
- Politics should be a GCSE option for every young person in the UK.
- Local councils and schools should work together to engage young people in their area and ensure that young people are given the space to put forward their opinions in meaningful ways. |
