Features
Greens: standing up for young people
Sponsored Feature
From the moment that 16 and 17 year old’s were allowed to vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014, the perception of young people’s role in politics – and elections in particular – has been shifting.
Despite Theresa May’s determination to ignore the voices and needs of young people, this election has seen an explosion in youth engagement, and seeing our generation reclaiming their voice in politics has been utterly inspiring.
In the EU referendum, about 64% of registered voters aged 18-24 went to the polls.
This is an upward trend – it was 58% in the General Election 2015. Having decisions made by one section of the population is no longer the inevitability it once was. This is not least because of brilliant democracy advocacy organisations like Bite The Ballot leading voter registration drives among young people, and the passion and resilience of young people determined to have their voices heard.
As the youngest person in a party leadership position in the UK, ensuring that young people are represented in politics is central to my work. I spend time listening to and working with young people, and most people I meet believe there should be more Green MPs in Parliament.
Young people are voting Green because of our radical and rational policies that meet the demands of a generation let down by the failure of government policy.
From tuition fees to zero hour contracts, high rents to rising public transport costs, young people have been badly let down by successive governments who seem determined to lessen their opportunities and force them into a narrow mold of what they can do in life.
When Molly Scott Cato MEP (pictured) launched our election campaign in Bristol, I felt proud as a young person to hear her standing up for our generation. Molly put it like this:
“I want to look at the gulf that’s opening up between young people and older generations, because the way that young people are being let down at the moment is a disgrace. It’s hard to think of a time when the young have faced a bleaker future and in this election, we risk the election of a Tory government that will make things so much worse for them.
“They’ll pursue an extreme Brexit that young people didn’t want and voted against. They’ll dismantle public services which benefited their parents and grandparents – from health, to welfare, to education.
“They’ll take away their opportunities, they’ll take away their security, they’ll take away their prosperity. The only thing young people can really count on at the moment is debt.”
That’s why Greens have pledged to abolish tuition fees and reintroduce maintenance grants, freeing students from the burden of debt. We would also ensure that we don’t confuse flexible work with zero hour contracts which leave young people without sick leave or holiday pay. We are a party who have consistently challenged the vagaries of the housing market and the poor conditions in the private rental sector.
And it’s not just about allowing our generation to survive, but to thrive. The Green Party is the only party standing up for the wonderful gift that is freedom of movement: the freedom for young people to study, work and love across Europe. While other parties are content to trade away these rights, Green MPs will always stand up for them – and for the rights of EU nationals who have made their lives in Britain in good faith.
We know that the vast majority of young people voted to remain in the EU. With the extreme form of Brexit that the Tories are threatening we want people to have a final say on the Brexit deal through a ratification referendum, including an option to stay in the EU if we don’t like what’s on offer.
And this time, we want 16 and 17-year-old’s to have a say on the important relationship with our European neighbours.
Finally, we will protect the environment and place climate change at the top of our agenda, ensuring there is a habitable planet for future generations to inherit.
Sometimes, as a young woman in politics, you have to work twice as hard for twice as long to be heard half as much, but I know that the Green Party has really helped ensure that we are heard in the political arena.
Caroline Lucas has shown what can be achieved with just one Green MP: championing votes at 16, defending our National Health Service, and standing up for education. Electing another Green MP will double our representation in parliament – and double the impact we can have on issues from Brexit to public services.
For too long, politicians have taken young people for granted, and gambled away our futures.
On June 8th, we have a chance to elect Green MPs who will stand up for us – so make sure you make your voice heard.
Amelia Womack, Green Party deputy leader
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
