Why are young people disinterested in politics

I’M just sick of politicians making nothing but empty promises’ muttered a friend of mine, with all the resignation and resentment of a seasoned voter, not the

21-year-old university student that she was.

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and I was sat in a local park having a socially distanced picnic with friends. Talk had turned to politics, and the general mood had evolved from exasperation to apathy.

Phrases like “It’s too complex” and “The government are so reactionary”, were being tossed around over Scotch eggs and cocktail sausages.

I raised the issue of young people’s disinterest in politics and why we were so content placing our future in the hands of others.

“Only politicians understand politics; it’s too confusing,” said one friend.

This was met by a consensus of nods from those present.

Political discussions can be bewildering, often requiring a prior, in-depth knowledge of parliamentary jargon and current affairs. Acquiring this knowledge takes time and exposure to political discourse. To most young people, the world of Westminster appears elitist and esoteric. The average age of an MP is 50, according to www.parliament.uk. It is no wonder that we, as a group of 21-year-olds, felt alienated and underrepresented.

Politics is presented as the concern of adults’ those who can be trusted to deal with complex issues like fiscal policy and Brexit negotiations. Despite it being our future under debate, we are made to feel as though politics is not our responsibility.

As a University of Nottingham student, I was awed to discover that my MP, Nadia Whittome, is only three years my senior, making her the youngest MP in the house. Having an MP so close in age is inspiring and makes the conversations taking place in Westminster feel more relevant to me.

A parliament of older MPs excludes the younger generation; we need more Nadia Whittome’s if politics is to capture a younger audience.

Priority

“Political debates never focus on the issues which matter to me” said another friend. Murmurs of agreement corroborated her complaint.

Generation Z, those born between 1995 and 2015, have proved themselves to hold liberal values. With young people today owing as much of their political education to apps like Instagram and Twitter compared to conversations had around the dinner table with family, our agendas are topped by issues such as climate change, racial discrimination, and university tuition fees.

These are often not the priority of those in parliament, and slow progress has left many young people feeling let down and overlooked by politicians.

This is not to say that there are not opportunities available for young people to make their voices heard.

Youth Parliament and British Youth Council both provide mock debate environments which encourage young people to take an interest in the political sphere. However, this is only for the lucky few.

While some may have the opportunity to take politics at A-level, most will receive no formal political education in school.

Many young people become eligible to vote without even knowing the basics of party politics or the importance of their voice.

A political education should begin in the classroom, not just be considered an optional extracurricular.

As the sun began to set on our picnic, I asked my friends if they felt young people could really change the future for better.

The answer was a resounding yes, if only we could educate the younger generation on the importance of their political voice.

Perhaps it is time we start tweeting a bit less and talking a bit more.