Can youth leaders make politics work for young people?
- Text by Alex King
Across Europe, austerity programmes and spending cuts have fallen hardest on young people. High levels of youth unemployment have led to unprecedented youth migration in search of work and opportunities. Unless the balance of power shifts, governments seem likely to continue viewing cuts that affect young people as soft targets and failing to invest in future generations.
But will the UK’s forthcoming general election offer an opportunity to change this? Despite huge efforts to increase participation, youth voter registration still lags behind the rest of the population. Four-fifths of British young people are politically engaged but are still struggling to make their voices heard in mainstream politics.
Shout Out UK, a youth-run independent media platform, have teamed up with Channel 4 to present the first youth leaders debate on Tuesday April 28 – watch it online from 8pm. Young representatives from each of the seven major British political parties will go head-to-head to discuss the political issues that matter to young people.
“I am 22 and for my generation this is an important event, for the first time in Britain, we are actively able to hear the political debate from a young person’s perspective,” explains Shout Out founder Matteo Bergamini. “We have the power to speak our mind. It is our right, as well as our duty to demand a better future.”
The youth leaders will be discussing major themes of the mainstream election campaign, but also issues that are particularly important to young people, like education and housing.
Are Britain’s youth political leaders in touch with the issues that matter to young people? Do they have have the answers to the issues we face? And can they fight for politicians to take young people’s needs seriously? Tune in to the debate to find out.
Britain’s first Youth Leaders’ Debate takes place on Tuesday April 28 and will be available to watch online at All4 from 8pm.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
Meet the Paratriathlete who cheated death twice
A near fatal training crash ruined British Paralympian George Peasgood’s Paris 2024 plans. As he recovers, his life and outlook are changing – will LA 2028 be part of his future?
Written by: Sheridan Wilbur
A glimpse of life for women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule
‘NO WOMAN’S LAND’ has been awarded the prestigious 14th Carmignac Photojournalism Award and will be exhibited at the Réfectoire des Cordelieres in Paris this autumn.
Written by: Isaac Muk
In Photos: A decade growing up in pre-gentrification Lower East Side
A new photobook provides an up-close-and-personal look at the life of a Puerto Rican family, documenting them growing up as the world changed around them.
Written by: Isaac Muk
This summer taught us everything is... marketing
Months of historic political violence, memes, auras, and, of course, ‘brat’ has newsletter columnist Emma Garland asking if anything is real anymore?
Written by: Emma Garland
Rick Castro’s intimate portraits of love and remembrance
Columbarium Continuum is an ongoing exhibition of photographs displayed inside the two-story art nouveau columbarium of the iconic Hollywood Forever cemetery.
Written by: Miss Rosen
The disabled Flâneur forcing us to rethink our cities
This perspective-shifting short film follows Phil Waterworth, the wheelchair-bound urban explorer confronting a lack of accessibility in cities like Sheffield.
Written by: Alex King