Given the state of British politics today, you’d be forgiven for thinking that we’ve all been watching a reality TV show.
Far from Casa Amor, the politics of this island comes across as heartless and unrelatable. It is no surprise then, that young people have got the ick for many in positions of political power.
Former Love Island contestants like me aren’t strangers to seeing people get pied. Our politicians are getting the same reaction from young people, as a recent poll from Opinium and My Life My Say suggests that the majority of 18-24 year olds don’t trust politicians.
When it feels as if we’re getting mugged off consistently by those in power, it is easy to respond with apathy and disengagement. Even when a political leader seems your type on paper, they are often a let-down.
Why, then, am I urging people to register to vote today? Why should we bother when we feel that politicians are failing us no matter what we do?
Tomorrow is the UK’s annual National Voter Registration Day (NVRD). I’ve joined My Life My Say’s campaign to get young people to register to vote.
The award-winning organisation has been engaging and inspiring the British youth into politics since 2013, boosting youth voter registration every NVRD. This year is particularly pivotal because it is also deadline day - you need to register by midnight tonight in order to be eligible to vote in the local elections on May 5th.
It's a myth that young people don't care about politics. We are tired of hearing that lie. The same Opinium research showed clearly that most young people feel that politicians prioritise the wealthiest and most powerful in Britain.
From the cost of living crisis to the climate movement and beyond, activism is on the rise among young people. This is not apathy; it is anger.
The anger that young people hold against those elites who get fined for breaking their own laws while making it more expensive to get an education is justified. But democracy isn’t just about arguing against sky-high bills or rip-off rents - it is about the value of those democratic rights themselves. The world is being reminded again that our democratic rights should never be taken for granted.
May’s elections will be a crucial moment to send a clear message that young people do care. Democracy means that our words turn into actions. Whether you’ve protested on the street, via an Instagram post, or in the group chat - remember to voice your demands by voting too.
The frustration that the youth in Britain direct to politics won’t be fixed overnight. We are fully aware that democracy is a long process that requires engagement and action to build the society we want.
This is not Love Island. We can’t boot everyone off the show. But, we can only start to take control of our future by taking control of today.
Let’s send a message that we can be bothered. Let’s tell the country that it isn’t fine to exclude the youth in politics. Let’s make our presence felt locally. Register to vote today; and have your say in May.
