Young people increasingly unlikely to vote in general election, survey finds
A voter placing a ballot paper in the ballot box at the polling station at Market Hall in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, May 6, 2010
YOUNG people are increasingly unlikely to vote in the general election expected this year, a new survey has found.
A belief that their vote would make no difference and a feeling that the parties did not represent them may keep nearly half of the so-called “Gen Z” — voters aged 18 to 27 — at home on polling day.
About 43 per cent of the nearly 2,300 young people surveyed by research company Prograd said that they either would not vote or were unsure whether to do so.
The findings are scarcely shocking in the blancmange age of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
On the issues found to most concern the young, such as public service funding, tackling climate change and cutting taxes for low-paid workers, it looks like there is little to choose between the major parties.
But the survey is particularly bad news for Labour since its electoral performance has been buoyed by a commanding lead among younger people, particularly under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. If their turnout is low, Labour can only suffer.
Commenting on the survey, a Momentum spokesman said: “Keir Starmer is taking our core vote for granted, whether its young voters concerned about housing costs and student debt, or Muslim communities furious at Labour’s betrayals.
“We need to give people something to vote for, by committing to abolish tuition fees, renationalise key industries to cut bills and carbon, and stand up for human rights internationally.”
A voter placing a ballot paper in the ballot box at the polling station at Market Hall in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, May 6, 2010
YOUNG people are increasingly unlikely to vote in the general election expected this year, a new survey has found.
A belief that their vote would make no difference and a feeling that the parties did not represent them may keep nearly half of the so-called “Gen Z” — voters aged 18 to 27 — at home on polling day.
About 43 per cent of the nearly 2,300 young people surveyed by research company Prograd said that they either would not vote or were unsure whether to do so.
The findings are scarcely shocking in the blancmange age of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
On the issues found to most concern the young, such as public service funding, tackling climate change and cutting taxes for low-paid workers, it looks like there is little to choose between the major parties.
But the survey is particularly bad news for Labour since its electoral performance has been buoyed by a commanding lead among younger people, particularly under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. If their turnout is low, Labour can only suffer.
Commenting on the survey, a Momentum spokesman said: “Keir Starmer is taking our core vote for granted, whether its young voters concerned about housing costs and student debt, or Muslim communities furious at Labour’s betrayals.
“We need to give people something to vote for, by committing to abolish tuition fees, renationalise key industries to cut bills and carbon, and stand up for human rights internationally.”
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