Power people need to engage with us

ENGAGE with us . . . Mariam at Strasbourg

Whether it is low voter turnout, absence from democratic processes or the lack of knowledge to make informed decisions, young people have been identified as the one demographic extremely disengaged from politics.

To some extent Oldham Youth Coouncil agrees. But maybe it’s not young people who are disengaged at all; maybe politicians and parties aren’t doing enough to engage us.

A recent study by the Hansard Society showed only 12 per cent of under 25s in the UK plan to vote in the 2015 General Election. This paints a very worrying picture: we are the 18-24 year olds that could potentially win the 2015 general election for politicians.

But come May 7, up to 74 per cent of us might not bother showing up at polling stations - whereas in Scotland, 80 per cent of the total eligible 16 and 17 year old voters registered to vote in the independence referendum.

This proves how targeted campaigning by politicians can and will engage young people. They were given their democratic right to vote and they used it.

The youngest MP in the House of Commons is 29. Following the General Election of 2010, the average age of MPs is 50. So as a young person, this begs the question: can my political representative relate to the issues I face, and represent my views?

If so, politicians should do everything in their power to ensure young people don’t feel excluded. I want to know how politicians will scrutinise legislation on my behalf.

As a young person I can assure you we do share your values and passion; we are an extremely open minded and tolerant part of society. We care deeply about our education, our future, equality, immigration, the environment and the economy.

It’s important to remember most of us will feel the impact of these issues more than you ever will.

Nationally, 71 per cent of us want politics to be taught in schools so we can be a part of this process.

We are eager for things to change. My Facebook newsfeed is constantly filled with debates about feminism, world conflict, climate change and equality.

Politics affects us, but our representatives aren’t listening. Something must change.

We don’t vote because we don’t know what your parties stand for and how that affects us.

We’re completely unaware of which one of you fights for what we believe in: it’s as simple as that.

Older generations have a vivid understanding of what it means to be Conservative, Labour or a Lib-Dem. We don’t.

I understand energising an entire generation will be hard but if anyone can do it — it’s us. The Oldham Youth Council and Oldham Council needs collaboration.

The Youth Council believes the political parties in our council should consider creating youth manifestos for the young people in Oldham. Such a manifesto could contain party values and pledges, as a normal manifesto would, but would be relevant to young people.

Engage us. It would enable the young people of Oldham to understand how each party plans to make their lives, and the society we live in, a better place.