I’m fed up with the diplomatic language politicians so often reach for when they try to persuade young people that they should take part in the democratic process – so I’m going to tell you what I really think. If you don’t vote, you can get stuffed. Before you close your browser or send me an angry tweet, let me explain what I mean by that.
There is just one week left for people to get registered and have their say in the upcoming elections on 5 May. Over the last six months I have talked to thousands of young people all over the country, trying all sorts of ways to convince them of the power that comes with voting. People tend to think that young people just don’t care about politics – they will never vote, and will always be uninterested or apathetic. But this hasn’t always been the case. In the 1960s, the overwhelming majority of young people turned out to vote – a whopping 76% in 1964. At the same time over-65s voted in similar numbers.
The reasons for young people being disenchanted with politics are complex. But what is clear is that the link between them choosing not to vote and their rights, living standards and opportunities dropping is more than just a coincidence.
After decades of youngsters exercising their democratic right, it wasn’t until the 90s that the first real dip started to show. Turnout among young voters dropped substantially to just over 50%, and continued to fall. In last year’s general election just 43% made it to the ballot box. But if you look at older people throughout the same period, their numbers have remained comfortably above 70%.
In the 1960s, young people earned significantly well compared to other age groups. In 1964, someone aged between 20 and 25 was in the top third for median income compared to the rest of the population. This continued throughout the 70s.
In the 80s and 90s – incidentally coinciding with the Thatcher years – living standards for young people took a serious hit. Suddenly they were significantly worse off than the majority of the population.
Over the same period, 65- to 69-year-olds have seen a steady increase in income compared to the rest of the country. In 1961, just under a third of the population was worse off than these older voters. But during the 80s and 90s, their living standards began to creep steadily up, until 40% of the country was worse off than them. Finally, the average income of those aged 65 and over put them in the top third of incomes.
So older and younger people have swapped places in three generations. Over the past 60 years, young people have paid the price as older people have become better off.
What changed for young people in that time? Why have they gone from being politically engaged and well-off to turned-off and in debt? As older people continued to vote in strong numbers throughout the past 60 years, young people have become less engaged in elections. That cannot be a coincidence.
People on lower incomes also tend to vote less than more affluent citizens. In 2015, three-quarters of people in social class AB voted, compared with just over half of people in social class DE. Analysis of the government’s spending review at the start of the last parliament shows that people with annual household incomes under £10,000 have lost an average of £1,926 every year – that’s a shocking 41% of their average income. By contrast, those with incomes over £60,000 lost an average of £2,104, which represents a minuscule 2.7% of their income.
So young people and those on low incomes are less likely to vote, and as such get less of a say, which means parties such as the Tories simple don’t feel the need to try to win their support.
These are just a couple of examples – and there are many complex reasons why young people choose not to vote. But what I’m saying today to those who don’t vote is that while you might think you’re sticking two fingers up at politicians when you stay at home on election day, you’re really doing yourself out of a chance to have your say about your life.
So if you weren’t convinced that you should register to vote by the deadline in a week’s time, I hope you are now. It really is worth voting this May. It could be the difference between getting stuffed and getting what you really want. A job that matches your skills? A place at college? A home of your own? If you want it, the only way to tell us is to put a cross in that box.
Register now at gov.uk/register-to-vote by 18 April, then vote at your nearest polling station on 5 May.
