Give young people a voting card, not a shovel

By Stephen Brown

Some have questioned David Cameron’s electoral strategy since, last week, after gaining some momentum over national insurance, he decided to switch tact on the notoriously difficult GMTV sofa and announce a National Citizenship Programme for young people.

The programme which Cameron himself compared to “a national service for the 21st Century”, isn’t actually a new idea at all; in fact much if it has been well funded by a Labour government for years. The ‘v inspired‘ project, which connects 16-25 year olds with volunteering opportunities, has received £7.5 million Cabinet Office funding every year since 2005. Moreover, Gordon himself announced a similar civil society scheme in April of last year and David Blunkett, in association with the Fabian Society, has also published a paper about the future of the voluntary sector under a Labour government.

But the point that this is a rehash of already funded projects is neither here nor there. The really interesting note is the stark contrast in young people’s policies announced this week by both the Conservatives and Labour. It’s been quite astounding that on top of the mistrust and disinterest in politics that plagues the involvement of young people in politics, more hasn’t been made of the contrast in policies announced this week.

If re-elected, Labour will today commit to a parliamentary vote on whether to reduce the voting age to 16, a policy which instantly contrasts to that of Cameron’s big idea. Choosing to empower young people by giving them the vote is so much more valuable than handing them a shovel, a trowel or a tea tray. The problem isn’t that young people don’t contribute enough to society, it’s that they don’t feel their contribution is valued. It is ludicrous to suggest that you tackle the disenfranchisement of young people in society or in politics by forcing them to mend someone’s roof, mow someone’s lawn or paint a school wall. You do it by equalising their worth in society, by showing them that their contribution is as valued as anyone else’s – you don’t tell them that they have to work harder for it. And although a disappointing “free vote” will decide the future of this policy, it nonetheless demonstrates Labour’s understanding of what young people want and need.