Young voters urged to stop ‘Tories holding them back’

JEREMY Corbyn will today make a direct plea to young people to “step up” and register to vote to stop the Conservatives “holding them back”.

The Labour leader will urge potential young voters – who could hold the key to his electoral prospects as they are more likely to back him – to overcome “apathy and resignation” because it only favours the Tories.

He will highlight figures showing 2.4m young people missing from the electoral register and a turnout rate of just 40% among 18- to 24-yearolds, who he will tell to “claim your future”.

At an east London speech which is anticipated to include his most personal intervention of the campaign so far, Mr Corbyn is expected to say: “The Conservatives are more than happy with this state of affairs. Apathy and resignation will secure them seats on election day. It’s not that our young people don’t have the energy and talent to succeed. Our country is full of potential. But something hangs on people’s lips – though it typically goes unspoken. It’s the unheard story of why so many of us are scaling back our hopes and dreams in favour of just getting by.

“It’s the reason why this country is unable to unleash its potential.

“Because as families, communities – entire regions – we are all being held back. Don’t let the Conservatives hold you back. Don’t let the Conservatives hold Britain back.”

Mr Corbyn will also accuse the Conservatives of preparing to deliver a “Brexit for the few” which will only benefit the super-rich and big corporations. He will say the Tories’ “friends and backers” have a “getout-of-jail-free card” and will benefit from Theresa May’s plans to hand tax cuts to the rich while at the same time she erodes workers’ rights and environmental protections enshrined in EU law.