Someone could rightfully argue
that Brexit created a lot of uncertainty in the market and formed an additional
division in the society, this time between youngsters and their elders.
During political campaigns there
was a notion that UK will eventually remain in EU which sent false messages to
young people that they should not be extremely worried but going to polling
stations would be something good. Probably not the right way of thinking, in my
humble opinion, but things changed.
As mentioned in a previous blog post even though the majority of the youth voted to remain the turnout was
significantly low given the circumstances. Only 36% of 18-24 years-old voters
participated but that – fortunately – improved for the parliamentary election.
The term “fortunately” does not refer to the result itself, as it’s not
relevant at the moment, but mostly for the message youngsters transmitted to
current leaders.
For the latest general election
the turnout rose to 64% making it the biggest percentage in the past 25 years. That
outcome can have multiple meanings but two of them seem to be the most
significant ones.
On the one hand, it can be
regarded as a result which political party leaders could not foresee and they
will treat it as an event that most likely will not be repeated in the near
future.
On the other hand, it can be perceived
as an indication that youngsters learned from their low participation during
Brexit vote and from now on they will stay updated when it comes to political
matters to make the best possible decisions in the future for them and the
generations to come.
At the moment it is hard to make
any concrete statements whether or not the mobilization of young people during
the snap election made them aware of how much voting power they have
collectively.
However we can express with
certainty that the younger generation is not so alienated from politics, as we
thought it was. Not anymore.
Youngsters and politics
