Jason Rust: Listen to the political voice of young people

Published on Tuesday 28 April 2009 09:14

FORTY years ago, in a radical step, the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years. There is now talk that this should be reduced further, to just 16. This debate is a red herring though. The key is not necessarily the legal voting age per se, but the engagement and involvement of younger people in the political process as a whole.

There's little point in reducing the age limit only to then complain about even more apathy and low election turnouts. The key has to be normalising young people in the existing processes.

There is not a generic "young persons' view" – as with older people, views and outlook are shaped by background, experiences, friends, possibly even reading or travel. The concept of having a token "young person" on a neighbourhood partnership or community council does not help.

Community councillors should encourage younger people putting themselves forward not on the basis of youth alone, but to represent local people as a whole with freshness and vision.

The Scottish Youth Parliament or university unions have their uses for younger people to debate and have dialogue, but in the grander scheme of things separate institutions may attract certain young people for a period of time, but arguably do not help overall involvement in long-term mainstream politics.

It is vital that the attraction of political dialogue is seen contemporaneously with everyday life and decisions.

In Edinburgh, we have to bear in mind not only connection with the unusually large independent school sector, but those in our less privileged communities.

The ad hoc youth group at Sighthill Library, for instance, is testament to what can be achieved in an informal non-contrived setting.

Politics, when seen in isolation and simply discussed formally by more mature generations, is not only a turn-off, but from my experience makes politics less accessible to younger people who may feel less comfortable or confident.

Undoubtedly political organisations are much more accommodating of younger people now and with many of the former "single issues" raised by them now being encapsulated by political parties.

If our young Calders and Dumbryden delivery team are anything to go by, such political stereotypes as Harry Enfield's Toryboy character or that of the leftie tree-hugger have become irrelevant.

Given the expenses fiasco at Westminster, it is vital that we do not create a professional branch of politicians without a touchstone on reality.

The desire to see political involvement of younger people has to be balanced with recognition of having a life too.

From climate change issues to matters of the economy, young people are perhaps aware today as never before about the pressures facing us locally and globally.

The 11 Million Takeover Day project in England was a good example of young people being directly involved in the political process, witnessing the challenges and responsibilities facing elected politicians.

Getting a social or political message across need not simply come direct from politicians, but can be more subliminal.

Political satire on television and even on soap operas can play a key role for attentive youthful audiences in raising awareness of politics and electioneering.

I suspect that the election of the then youngest councillor to the City of Edinburgh in Colinton in 2004 was somewhat less a political earthquake at the time than Charlie Simpson and Busted revealing their political colours.

Role models without doubt prove a greater draw for a teenager than someone in their forties say, who is much more set in their opinion.

The election of Obama has been a recent promising factor and encouragement of younger people in politics is not exclusive or at odds with respecting and learning from the wealth of experience of older colleagues.

As William Pitt replied on becoming Prime Minister in the 18th century at the age of 25, "Yes, I know I am young and inexperienced, but it is a fault I am remedying every day".

Councillor Jason Rust is convener of Pentlands Neighbourhood Partnership