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Looking Ahead: Why Labour Should Prioritise the Youth Now

Grace Holloway argues that Labour must champion policies targeted towards younger voters if they are to remain in office and reverse growing political apathy among Britain's youth
Image: 10 Downing Street
Image: 10 Downing Street

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As per YouGov’s latest poll (21st of January), current voting intention suggests if a general election was to be called a hung parliament would occur, with Labour losing its majority. The government would be expected to receive 26% of the vote share, closely followed by Reform on 24% and Conservatives on 22%. Within the demographic of electoral behaviour, Labour would improve its share of the 18-24 year old vote, from 41% at the 2024 general election to around 48% as per current intentions. However, this still pales in comparison to the elections of 2017 and 2019 where the party successfully dominated the 18-24 year old category with 66% and 56% of the vote respectively. This decline underscores the need for Labour to rebuild and improve its connection with young voters.

Labour’s ability to engage the youth vote is crucial for both building their electoral support, as well as responding to needs of the youth and fostering long-term engagement and participation in electoral politics. Targeting the 18-29 age group generally, could be more successful than targeting other voter bases since other groups are less volatile and harder to attract. This includes older voters who are disillusioned with the winter fuel payment removal and wider economic change, as well as centre-right voters who now have the credible options of Reform and Badenoch’s Conservatives to choose from. 

Historically, Labour has enjoyed strong support from young voters since the Blair years with the highest electoral success in 2017. Corbyn’s leadership, grassroot activism, and more favourable policies such as free tuition fees, resonated deeply with young people and wider participation leading to a rise in party membership to 560,000 members. Regardless of your stance on Corbyn’s policies or agenda, his ability to inspire and push for increased political involvement is admirable, especially with a long-term impact across the youth. In contrast, Starmer has struggled to gain the same appeal, especially with the tuition fee rise last November which demonstrated to many young people that mainstream politicians were failing to consider them. The party’s stance on the Israel-Gaza war also influenced the youth disengagement in the run up to the 2024 election. Labour failed to adopt a concrete position on the matter, leading to many pro-Gazan independent candidates reaching high shares of the vote in many Labour strongholds. The party’s unclear stance on a highly salient and emotive issue for young people, both before and after the election, has harmed its reputation with this demographic as young voters have become increasingly politically active on the matter. 

The 2024 election did see young voters turn to other parties, notably the Liberal Democrats and Green party, reflecting how policies focused on climate change, affordable housing, mental health and the cost-of-living matter to young voters. The youth support for Liberal Democrats and the Green Party in 2024, reflects a gap that Labour could fulfil by adopting similar youth-focused priorities, and thus assist their overall vote electoral support.

At the moment, it feels as if the future generation of the country is not being prioritised. The recent election saw the Conservatives even propose national subscription for the youth, a detached policy platform that did not address the issues of housing, youth unemployment and the student cost of living that young people are concerned about. As a young person, it currently feels as if the youth is silenced, and perhaps with the current position of the right and lack of sufficient power for smaller parties, it seems Labour may be the only mainstream option to extend the youth voice. 

Most importantly democratic engagement in electoral politics is at an all-time low. While frustration with the system and elites that dominate it is understandable, electoral legitimacy is essential for the authority and legitimacy of the government. Youth turnout is the lowest, and young people need to be inspired to vote and participate, as without this we risk a future of declining government legitimacy. Last year’s turnout was only 59.7% with youth turnout reported by Ipsos to be as low as 37%. The 18-24 age range was yet again the lowest, consistent with previous elections and indicating a decline in the power of young voices in electoral politics. While some parties do hold policies prioritising the youth, the two-party system and electoral system means that it comes down to either Labour or Conservative representation. 

To secure the youth vote, Labour must champion policies that the younger generation feel are important to them, addressing issues of economic insecurity, housing inequality and the climate crisis. If Labour prioritises this it could both strengthen their electoral position, as well as taking steps towards empowering the next generation of voters to engage and improve the legitimacy of electoral politics. 

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