BRING BACK THE PASSION
Special hustings is parties’ chance to recapture the 2014 indyref buzz
First time voters can’t wait to take part in the Sunday Mail hustings…and say politicians should hold similar events up and down the country.
Young people believe all the political parties should be engaging with them more before they cast their vote in the general election on June 8.
They see events like our Young Voters Big Questions – where politicians from each of the five main parties will gather to answer questions from young people – as the way forward.
Erin Small, 24, a customer adviser from Kirkcaldy, said: “Young people are disheartened by politics at the minute.
“There was a great passion around the referendum which made young people want to vote but that passion is gone. There are so many mixed messages being put out by all the parties at the moment it’s no wonder young people don’t understand what is going on.
“Instead of trying to inform, they are bashing each other. Instead of trying to address the issues, they are busy trying to score points.
“They need to sit down with Scotland’s young people and listen to what they have to say.
“That’s why an event l ike the Sunday Mai l hustings is a great idea as it allows young voters to put their questions to the politicians. It’s a chance ffor us to be heard. “Events like this should nonot only be happening in one of the country’s big cities, they should be taking place in village halls all over Scotland.” Holly Robertson, 24, a tattoo artist from Wick, Caithness, agrees that our hustings at Glasgow’s Drygate Brewery on Thursday is a great idea and a long time coming.
She said: “It’s time for the politicians to reach out to young people and a question and answer session is ideal.
“I want to use my vote but I’m finding it really hard to make up my mind who to vote for. I’ve voted for the SNP in the past but this time I don’t know as I don’t like the candidate in my constituency.
“I need guidance and would love some engagement from the politicians.
“I think there should be more young politicians like Mhairi Black. She is easy to relate to and understands the needs and worries of young people.” Holly
added: “If I had the chance to question the politicians, I would ask them why the maternity services at Caithness General Hospital had to close.
“Now when someone has a baby they have to undertake the long journey to Inverness, which puts lives in danger.
“How do the politicians know what our issues are unless they come out, meet with us and take an interest? If they re-engage, they will get a lot more young people into the polling stations.”
A recent survey by the Electoral Reform Society revealed that only a quarter of 16 to 24- year- olds feel understood, compared with more than half of over- 65s.
We organised our event amid growing concern that the turnout among first-time voters in this year’s general election will be at an all-time low.
Politicians taking questions at the hustings, to be broadcast live on our website, include Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar, Alex Cole-Hamilton of the Lib Dems and Green party leader Patrick Harvie. David Linden – the SNP candidate for Glasgow East – will also attend while MSP Jamie Greene will represent the Conservatives.
Julen Santamaria, 21, who is lead singer of Glasgow band Awkward Family Portraits, believes politics needs to be simplified for young people and is keen to ask about funding for the arts. He said: “It’s such a waste not to vote so I will but I’m having difficulty making up my mind.
“Politics has become too compl icated, it needs to be simplified.
“Being able to come face to face with the politicians is a great idea and I would ask them if they could look into increasing funding for the arts.”
Banjo player Barney Bridges, 22, who is originally from Belgium but now has British citizenship, agrees with his bandmate.
He said: “Politicians need to go out into schools, colleges and clubs in their local areas to explain to young people what their policies are all about. They also have to increase their presence on social media and engage with voters.”
Laura Hannah, 23, a retail assistant, of Pennilee, Glasgow, says she doesn’t rate any of the politicians in her constituency but will vote anyway.
She said: “I’ve lost interest in politics lately as it has got too complicated but, as a woman, I can’t not cast my vote.
“Politicians need to take the time to address Scotland’s young people.”
It’s a waste not to vote so I will do it but I’m having difficulty making up my mind