BY RAE PASSFIELD
ONED ORALISED
Why the young must get out and vote
“”
Young people need full- time, permanent contracts to start living our lives, instead of relying on our parents
Jonathan Breheney young part-time woker
this society operates and see it definitely doesn’t operate in their interest. I would like them to be angry about that and want to do something about it,” Anthony urged.
Politics is not taught on the national curriculum – is it a lack of education that dislocates young people from politics?
“This is a deliberate political choice,” Anthony explains. “Educating people about politics is not a priority because ultimately it doesn’t serve the ruling elite. If you have a generation of people that isn’t educated to challenge them on the issues, there won’t be any successful opposition to their ideological assaults.”
The fast approaching election may be our
last opportunity to change this; and momentum is gaining. Unite is working with campaign groups like Bite the Ballot to engage with young people and encourage them to become empowered political activists.
On National Voter Registration Day (February 5) 166,000 people registered to vote. Of these, more than 100,000 of them were aged 16 to 34. This sends a clear message to Westminster that there’s a young generation of engaged, participating citizens who deserve representation.
The next step is voting in May. Imagine if the four million young people who didn’t vote in the last election took to the ballot box this year – the whole election could be
23 uniteWORKS Spring 2015
swung. But, as Anthony points out, it cannot stop there. Voting alone isn’t enough.
”Young people should be encouraged to stay active in politics, through joining a trade union, linking up with anti-cuts organisations, going out and campaigning in their community,” he said.
This is crucial to bringing lasting change. Disillusion must transform into direct action if young people are going to be properly represented. Until the young stand up in politics, politics won’t stand up for them.
• For more see page 34 Are you registered? Visit
www.unitetheunion.org/nvnv
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