The political classes have been sneering at young voters. They could be in for a shock [TWEETS]

Elements of the UK political class have been sneering at the thought of young people voting. But they could be in for a shock.

Sneering

Activist Owen Jones referenced a Tory MP who spoke to The Huffington Post:

Under 30? This is what a Tory MP told Huffington Post. You going to take that? pic.twitter.com/PglDZMM2tj

— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) June 8, 2017

And another Twitter user pointed out Jeremy Clarkson’s opinion:

https://twitter.com/MiggyMoglet/status/872744005334945793

Clarkson said:

Corbyn is only really popular with those aged 18 to 24. And on election day they will be too busy sniffing glue to go to the polling station and vote.

Undoubtedly, he was trying to be amusing. But if he and his entitled Tory chums don’t get their own way, it’s likely that amusement will fade. Much like when he punched someone in the face because they didn’t provide him with sufficiently warm meat.

Turnout

It’s looking like voter turnout could be higher than anticipated, though:

Hearing of v high turnout. London polling stations rammed. Station in Lincoln had more people in 1st 90 minutes than whole day in 2015 👍🏼

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) June 8, 2017

Good to see a healthy queue of students waiting to vote at the @uniofeastanglia polling station #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/yn81DK2GxS

— Kirsty Webb (@Kirsty_Worm) June 8, 2017

https://twitter.com/MikeSegalov/status/872803882031734785

https://twitter.com/hypatia58/status/872767041815674880

High turnout has even reportedly got the Conservative Party concerned:

Tories just emailed entire membership about massive turnout, pleading please drag every hedge fund manager to the ballot. #forthefew pic.twitter.com/q6HZISgSg9

— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) June 8, 2017

Despite The Sun‘s clever ploy to avoid this situation:

WOW THE SUN REALLY DONT WANT THE YOUTH TO VOTE ARE REALLY THIS SCARED WAT THE HELL????? pic.twitter.com/mgy31ldHsN

— Godson Of Grime (@saskilla) June 8, 2017

Positive politics

It’s certainly true that young people in the UK tend to turn out in lower numbers than other age brackets. But it’s not true that these figures give us license to be apathetic about voter apathy.

The fact that those in the political class are happy to discourage people from getting involved suggests they don’t want a politics that works for all of us. They want a politics that works for those on the inside and ignores those who aren’t.

This attitude is unimaginable in any other field. You wouldn’t see a football commentator telling people not to attend matches. You wouldn’t see a singer-songwriter telling people not to pick up a guitar. And yet much of the commentariat think it’s their job to keep the public as far away from politics as possible.

If youth voter turnout is significantly higher in this election, we may have discovered what it takes to get them involved. And it’s simply to offer them policies that appeal to them. Who would have thought it?

Get Involved!

– Call everyone you know

– Help people get to the polling station

– Share posts on social media

– Remember to also get and vote!

Featured image via Pexels