Today (23 March 2010) I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of young people from the Prince’s Trust and the Youth Parliament, who were up from Bedford visiting Westminster. The young people had the opportunity to watch the Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw MP, answering questions in the House of Commons chamber this afternoon, before meeting me, where we discussed issues they were interested in, such as the regeneration of Bedford. Afterward, we went over to the Speaker’s House to meet with Mr Speaker, who had graciously volunteered his time to meet with the group of young people and answer some of their questions.
It was a rewarding afternoon and hopefully, an enjoyable experience for these remarkable young people, who are involved with the Prince’s Trust. I was very impressed with how interested and engaged they were, asking challenging questions and coming up with some thoughtful solutions to problems in Bedford.
It is really encouraging to meet a group of young people who want to learn more about politics and take an interest in the decisions being made in Government, both on a local and national level. Government and politics affect everyone, not just those who are eligible to vote. Many of the key election issues - like tuition fees, apprenticeships and the war in Afghanistan - have a direct effect on the lives of young people. Even if certain issues seem faraway at the moment, if you think about the future and the world you will inherit, how the Government acts today on issues like climate change and the economy will have serious repercussions for you later in life. So if you don’t take an interest now, if you choose not to vote because you think these issues don’t affect you now, you effectively wave away your ability to have any influence on how these issues play out in the future.
The youth vote is often sadly underestimated by politicians because the reality is that election after election, the percentage of eligible youth who actually register and vote is small when compared with other age groups. This cannot continue though. The only way a democracy is successful is if its citizens, both young and old, are active participants. Government simply does not function without the input and involvement of the people. So while it is easy to say that one vote won’t make a difference, the reality is every vote counts.
In the US presidential election in 2008, President Obama’s victory was largely due to the incredible numbers of young people who turned out to vote. 60% more young people voted in 2008 than did in 2004, and this had an important effect on the outcome of the election. Young people can effect real change, but to do so, you have to head down to the polling stations and vote on election day.
People around the world right now are dying for the right to vote. It is a privilege, and one that so many people take for granted. We are lucky to live in a democracy which guarantees us a say in who runs the country and how it is run. So the bottom line is, don’t throw away your vote. Make sure your voice is heard in the next election. Vote!
