WHILE I was a student at BHASVIC, I enjoyed attending the politics department’s guest talks. The hall would be packed, often standing room only, the debate would be lively and the speaker would attempt to engage with younger voters.

However the speakers sometimes appeared slightly unprepared for BHASVIC’s rather fierce politics students. One MEP seemed surprised when the students wanted to talk about subjects beyond education and drugs, and practically fell over when asked for his views on Keynesian economics.

It has become popular for politicians and pundits to discuss our disenfranchised youth and bemoan the lack of youth engagement in politics.

But despite fears that under-25s are bored with politics, young people in Sussex are engaged and passionate about government.

Sussex is home to the UK’s youngest ever parliamentary candidate, Solomon Curtis, who is contesting Wealden for Labour next May while studying politics at the University of Sussex. Solomon’s political career began aged just 12, when he told the Labour party he was 15 in order to qualify for their minimum age of 14.

Meanwhile the internet has made politics more accessible through live Q&As and streamed debates, as well as offering new platforms for young people to discuss and share their views.

Yet politicians often ignore the interests and needs of young people, and their interaction with young voters is limited to photo opportunities and text-speak posters.

Since the onset of the global financial crisis, youth centres all over the UK have been closed, children and young people’s mental health services have been cut and university tuition fees have been raised. Labour have promised to cut benefits further for under-25s if they get in.

The reality for young people in state schools and colleges is that the quality of our education is at the mercy of career politicians, that we face high rates of mental illness and higher rates of unemployment.

Economic and policy decisions taken in Westminster will not just impact our current standard of living, they will impact our fledgling careers and future employment. Although it’s true that voter turnout among 18 to 25-year-olds is low, refusing to tackle the problems faced by young people won’t help. Instead it gives the message that 18 is still too young to be taken seriously, thus driving young people away from politics again.

Many young people are disenfranchised with the mainstream parties, with the Greens and UKIP both seeing their youth membership rise.

Why then do ministers continue to pay lip service to the needs and interests of young people? Why is my Twitter feed full of PR companies promising to reveal the secrets of getting young people interested in current affairs?

Perhaps those concerned about youth participation are asking the wrong questions. Rather than wondering why young people aren’t talking about politics they should be wondering why they cannot hear us.

But unheard is not disinterested. Young people in Sussex are more excited and engaged than ever before.

Emma Yeomans – student journalist

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