Want to know what we’re thinking? - 19 May, 2010

Young people do not rate the same issues as important at election time

HeadsUp.org.uk, the innovative online forum for 11-18 year olds, has found that young people care about significantly different issues from adults when it comes to politics. The latest online forum, which ran throughout the general election (report available to download here), found that although young people and adults agree that the economy is important, they disagree on their priorities for other political issues:

Young people's top political issues:
1. Economy/Environment
2. Economy/Environment
3. Education
4. Political Reform
5. Immigration

Adult's top political issues:*
1. Economy
2. Immigration
3. Unemployment
4. Crime
5. Education/Health/Inflation

This led many young people on the forum to believe that they were not listened to by politicians and decision-makers, which left some feeling disillusioned:

    We would probably find politics more interesting if we had a small part in it such as our ideas being listened to and actually considered by the politicians.

    In the election a lot of the time people don't vote! A majority of the people that don't vote are between the age of 18-25! This isn't good maybey the polititions should try to actually say stuff related to 18-25year olds cause they don't most of the time!

Young people also felt that the lack of political education was a problem and there was a lot of discussion about lowering the voting age. Not all students on HeadsUp had a problem with the voting age staying at 18 but most did feel that there should be other ways, such as HeadsUp.org.uk, for politicians to take young people's views into account:

    children arent usually interested in something they cant take part in or do. I  mean talking about it on this site is real cool and having mock elections in school is cool too but... That is  all we can do untill we get to the age of 18 and by then... we might loose interest all together and not bother to vote!

    I think political parties don't really care about under 18s because they cant vote and if they cant vote the [politicians] dont really care about what they say.

HeadsUp is an online debating space for 11-18 year-olds, from the Hansard Society, which allows them to discuss their views on political issues with their peers and influential decision-makers. It aims to build young people's levels of political awareness and participation so that they can play an effective role in the democratic processes affecting their lives. HeadsUp is also a space politicians can use to consult with young people and find out their ideas, experiences and opinions.

Beccy Allen, HeadsUp Project Manager said:

"A new Parliament with a large number of new MPs is the perfect time for politicians to re-think their engagement with their younger constituents. It's clear from this forum that under 18s don't feel included in the political process but are very passionate about politics and it's important that politicians address this. It's crucial that MPs serve their under-age constituents in the same way as those that can vote."

For more information contact Kate Egglestone k.egglestone@hansard.lse.ac.uk

020 7438 1210 OR Beccy Allen r.allen@hansard.lse.ac.uk 020 7438 1214

Editor's notes

• HeadsUp (http://www.headsup.org.uk/) is an innovative website where young people aged 11-18, debate political issues and learn about the political process. The site is a non-partisan, cross-party educational resource that provides a secure, structured and student-centred discussion platform. It includes information for students and lesson plans and activities for teachers to ensure quality debate on the forums.
• There were 769 comments posted in the forum with 120 student HeadsUp users taking part in the debate.
• Two ways to register to participate in HeadsUp:

1. Young People - If you are 11-18 and want to get in on the action you need to complete the Student Sign Up Form.
2. Teachers/youth workers - can register a whole class/school year/group by completing our Teachers Registration Form.

• All HeadsUp forums are open to be viewed and the debate followed by the public. Participants need to register or login to post comments (11-18s and supporting teachers/youth workers only).
• The project is part-funded by the House of Commons.
• There are currently 868 schools registered with HeadsUp.

*Findings based on online forum and Ipsos Mori survey as follows:

∞ Where multiple issues appear under one rating the issues received the same level of support

∆ Analysis based on responses to ‘My big issues' thread over the course of the forum

à Taken from Ipsos MORI Issues Index (April 2010)