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What is the solution?

Low voter turnout and disengagement of young people in party politics poses a problem in If you don't do politicsthe UK. 

Although young people are interested in political issues, their passion does not transfer to participation in traditional democracy.  Yet, to maintain a strong British society it is important that young people participate.

 

Ask them!

In order to encourage young people to participate in government, we need to ask them to, according to chair of the councillors commission Dame Jane Roberts. 

Dame Roberts discusses the commission's research on those who stand for election.

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Dur: 0.14

 

 

Political language 'not fit for purpose'

According to UK youth parliament chief executive Andy Hamflett, the language used in politics is often dry and boring.  To make it politics more accessible to young people they need to understand it.

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Dur: 0.37

 

Education, Education, Education!

Education is necessary to become informed on what politics is and how it affects and relates to the lives of young people.  Currently citizenship education has been introduced in schools but lacks the lustre of discussion about party politics.

Bournemouth University senior lecturer Dr Darren Lilleker believes that party politics should be discussed in the classroom but finds that the education system does not allow for it. “You can’t teach politics because teachers will have their own biases and will influence the children they teach.”  Dr Lilleker views citizenship studies as providing basic knowledge on how Westminster works but sees it as not engaging with students' interests. 

Electoral reform society youth and student campaigns officer Ben Rawlings said: "We need to bring the politics back into political education."

Ben Rawlings comments on how to relate politics to what young people are interested in.

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Dur: 0:29

 

Get with the times

Mediums such as the internet, mobile phones, e-mail, blogs, and social networks like youtube, myspace and facebook are constantly being used by young people.

Politics for adults 18DoughtyStreet.com Alice Wright said: “It’s become almost odd how faceless communication has become with young people.  People are a lot more comfortable with sending text as opposed to speaking to people on the phone, but for us it is brilliant because we can reach so many people and encourage people to take an interest in politics.” 

According to politics for adults 18DoughtyStreet.com Mike Rouse, the government needs to utilise these new methods of communication to bring politics into the realm of young people and can start by complementing the traditional polling station and introduce voting by electronic means. 

Electoral commission head of campaigns and public information Nina Ziaullah said:  “There has been a pilot of internet voting but when these new methods have been introduced there hasn’t been hugely significant increases in people taking part. That is not to say in the future there wouldn’t.  What would be key with any of these initiatives is that the systems are secure.” 

Young Britons' foundation executive director Shane Greer discusses how politicians need to engage with young people in the arenas they are in.

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Dur: 0:26

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